THE BLACK SKIMMER. 
251 
their supper. Thousands there are, all gay, and the 
very manner of their mirth, causing the waters to 
sparkle, invites their foes to advance toward the shoal. 
And now the Pelicans, aware of the faculties of their 
scaly prey, at once spread out their broad wings, press 
closely forward with powerful strokes of their feet, 
drive the little fishes toward the shallow shore, and 
then with their enormous pouches spread like so 
many bag-nets, scoop them out, and devour them in 
thousands.” 
We must now spend a little time among the large 
and interesting families of the Terns and Gulls, and 
watch their beautiful motions as they skim over the 
surface of the ocean, now rising upon the bosom of 
the gale, and now with the swiftness of an arrow 
plunging into the deep in pursuit of their prey. 
The Black Skimmer, or Shearwater, is a very sin- 
gular bird, inhabiting our southern sea-coasts, where, 
during most of the night, in localities which it fre- 
quents, its hoarse cry may be heard as it sails over 
the water in search of food. With wide-spread 
wings it swiftly glides along, the lower mandible 
ploughing the water, while the upper mandible, 
which is movable, is elevated a little above it. In 
this manner it secures its prey, sometimes rising 
above the surface, and again dipping its great bill 
as fresh objects appear. Thus, the whole night long, 
with almost untiring energy, it skims the surface of 
the deep, winging its graceful and buoyant flight be- 
neath the light of the pale moonbeams, until day 
