180 BIRD LIFE ON ISLAND AND SHORE 
the crest raised high, and the mouth wide opened 
in a crowing scream. Whether in mid-air or on 
firm land the attitude alters not. Oftentimes 
when the thunder of the surf dulled all other 
sound it was quaint to see a bird high overhead 
pase in his flight, open his pinions, raise his head, 
and distend his great beak. We could see but not 
hear the recognition. The Sea Hawk establish- 
ment most persistently watched was perched on 
the very edge of the clifis that girdle the islet, 
cliffs permitting only on one place a landing, 
rough and awkward even in fair weather, un- 
approachable otherwise. 
Another larger island lay but a few score chains 
distant, protected also by girdling granite rocks. 
Immediately above its precipices straggled a long 
irregular line of daisy-trees, at this season in full 
bloom, making with the rocks below and the bush 
above a ribbon border of green, white, and grey. 
Two or three yards from the rock face fronting 
this pleasant prospect the writer watched in all 
weathers the manners of the Sea Hawk. Some- 
times an angry rip ran in the narrow strait, its 
centremost current crested, combed, and raging 
like a mountain stream in spate; sometimes, 
heaved on the rise of a long ground swell, the 
restless fringe of huge bull kelp would toss its 
shining skirts like wantons in a dance, then in 
the downward draw become a roaring slope of 
