Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-13
Surf and Sand.
something About the Bay and shore Birds of
san Francisco
How they Live and Catch their Prey-The Gull,
Tern, Pelican, Cormorant,.Loon, Diver, and
Albatross.

wonder ii there is person living who
is not fond of birds and who does not take
pleasure in watching their flight aud inter.
esting habits. Ii there is such one living
| 10 lot want to see him, for | know that
he can see no beauties in the light of the
morning and does not feel his heart warm
ed by the smiles and prattle of chill dren,
and must be, in short, a very undesrab
acquaintance. To most people there Is
something inexpressiblv charming in bird
lie. Its spright'incss and freedom its
continual atmosphere OF Sunshine, and its
exemption from annoyance; its bubbling
up and overflow OF spirits, aud its ndepen-
dcuc" oi all the harsh restraints OF times or
seasous-all this makes it the embodiment
of that which men, hampered and cIogged
by nature, call liberty. Our thoughts of
birds are usually tinged with some envy.
withal. To ny, To pursue and overtakc the
floating clouds, to circle with the eagle to
the sun ana leave earth and ali its cares
below US forcvcr-what would we not give
TO realize this dream for which so many,
in all ages, have given their reckless lives.
No phase of Nature is perfect without
it, birds. Even the grandeur of the noun
tains aud the clouds is rendered more i'm
prcs>ivc IL 4 solitary eagle shoots across
the scene on motionlc>s wing from his
cyric to the plain below. and the awful 81
leuce OF virgin forests is more profound
when the scream OF "a jay ha~ died out from
some tree top. Least Of all j. the broad
desert OF ocean pillows perfect withonl its
birds. though, pcrchauce it be but some
solemn albItro>S, SOinberly nIppng to-
wI:d the sunset. or, al least. some tiny
prtrcl. nursing u the storm, rising aud
sinking with ciOudthreatched billoWs, an
awful prodigy 70 sailors struggling with
The night and tempest 50 in the quietncsS
Of lAnd-lockrd hay,.
Without birds their beauties are ,horn
Of haii their charms. Imagine. ii you can.
going 10 our wharycs some day. and miss
lug the birds. Cross upon some of the fer
rir>. or -ail out 70 the Golden Gate. and
see no trace of bird-lifc in the air or waves
look above ana miss the white forms OF
the gulls; look around and see no clumsy
pclr4n> and no armada al ducks; look be-
.ow iu vain for the curious autic, of diving
comorant- and grebe> and YOU would
feel that somehow to-day'S sun did not
shine a> brightly a. yesterdays. and that
thn air Was chill. This statement may hr
read with surprise, but the action, Of the
daily tile 81 passengers confirm Id. When
crossing the Oakland ferry some pleasant
day. notice hpW every one h1~ thought
tor the birds. the lawyer forget, the ease
ui hl, most Important client the merchant
turns from h., computation of the DAYS
profits; the clergyman, revolving urNl
sunday sermon n lii NINA. loses TIE
tiUvuI Of his discourse, aud the broker
iurN~ up from hi~ stock rcPort-aN inter-
c>ted iu The eNubcrant hird-l:fr about them
-Iul ryrg Au ~iu. 'hr roor Chimes
''MA,hc,mIu.' aHd lis consrnrg-. "o tAr
dcck gable tp each other cNcjtcIiy 4, they
watch IL 2Auib"l> .,ud bioodirs> contests
"Y4r tine ilpt-um- Of the waves. Then note
contrast when a toy hides the hill aud ~
aud all hu. = few feet Ut liVjl, yca>;y
waves, ana When, though thy screams "
Invisible birds come from the cloud. no
INV !, seen beyond the vessels side. Every
one Tctrcs into hi, conversational shelf
ike a turtle. and feel, a waHt Of something
Ia the passage, und-liued perhaps, but yet
independent ot the mere gioomiucsS OF tlIr
day, for though some clear days may be
more uncomfortable, the birds have uo
lacA Of witnesses. Sea birds have more In
tcre,t for nearly every one than land birds.
anl there j. really 10 more attractive OBJ
jrcJ in animated nature Their graceful
forms and >harply-Cut wings. their buoy
ant, determined flight, never descending 10
uusustIiuyd nutterIus, a. among land
| birds; their cc.1sele>S activity and the line
contrast their almost uniformly white
/ plumasr makes with the blue SKY On the
/ green wave; add L. this the mystery OF
/ their lie above the solemn sea. that sym
/ bui Of all that j. unlathomabic in life or
I thought. and the attraction they possess J.
/ wei explained. let, though every one
I loves the birds, few have time on iuclua-
I ton 10 study them and their habits, ana
/ yOu could probably count upon Your lin
/ gers tile men in this city VINO can di>In-
/ gul>h on sea-gull from smother or tell
ANS ythiug OF their life beyond What thr day
Il-tt vi the harbor reveals. Could = KNOW
rd-r N thcn aud a. oar hoard NJ dniia.>,
hoW eagerly would We acquire il. but a, jt
cauuUr, wr arr NOT ready ~ waste" the
+ time III eurichinT our minds and heart, at
the expense OF our pockets.