Off the 
New Jersey 
coast 
that they took advantage of the "suction" caused by the 
steamer, but this theory seemed to me absurd, although per¬ 
haps they did obtain some benefit from keeping in the lee 
of our hull, but they often rose above the upper deck with¬ 
out seeming to feel the wind. 
They are more graceful and buoyant than the Herring 
Gull, but they did not look to me much smaller. Indeed, 
before I put the glass on them and made out the diagnostic 
markings, I was in doubt as to whether they were not 
Herring Gulls. Most of them carried the feet pressed up 
against the under side of the tail but plainly visible, 
even to the naked eye. In the case of a few individuals, 
however, I could see nothing of either legs or feet. The 
bill was usually pointed downward and the head kept moving 
from side to side. When any food was thrown overboard, 
these Gulls at once shot down on set wings and clustered 
about the spot to pick it up, dropping their legs and 
apparently standing as well as walking on the water, but 
keeping their wings flapping the while. 
At about 5 P. M. when out of sight of land I saw 
three old male Golden-eyed Ducks flying together close 
to the surface of the water, heading south. 
The sea was white-capped and with rather large 
swells during the late afternoon and evening. 
