The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1888-11-17
BIRDS OF THE SEA.

All along our rough Atlantic sea-coast, with
its miles of rugged rocks and stretches of yell
low sands, there are many wild sea-fowl which
remain with us the entire year, or change with
each'changing season. going NORTH TO the arctic
latitudes for summer, or retiring to the inland
moOrs during the cold months of winter. In
the spring and autumn of the year they are
moving about in scattered colonies from the
coast of Florida to Maine, preparing to make
their annual migration to some other regions,
or busy in selecting some good feeding-ground
or home for themselves and their young. The
great bays along the coast, separated from the
ocean only by narrow strips OF beach, make
the best feeding-ground for these birds of the
sea, and in all of them they congregate in col
onies varying from dozen or two to several
thousands.
On the broken mast of some ill-fated vessel a
huge cormorant stands for hours, patiently
waiting for its prey to appear close to the sur
face of the water. Of sudden it dives into
the liquid deep, pursuing its victim long dis
tances under the water, and returning to the
surface again only when completely exhausted
with its feathers so drenched that it is unable
to fly. When it has reached some favOrite
standing place, on an old buoy or point OF rock,
it spreads its huge wings wide apart, and re-
mains for hours thus perched, until the sun
has dried its feathers, looking for all the world
like some sable giant of the air. The manou-
vres of these birds when attacked by the sports
man are unique and puZzling to the amateur.
The whole flock drops into the sea when the
first bird is shot and unless boat is quickly
rowed out to the flock will escape by swim
ming away beyond the reach of gun-shOt.
The common gull has of late years been
slaughtered in great numbers in the Great
South Bay and Chesapeake, owing to the general
demand for the dove-like plumage of the birds
for millinery purposes. In former years they
congregated in these bays in such large num-
bers that schools of fish that would have other
wise entered the bay were driven out to sea
again. In this respect the destruction of the
gulls was not to be so sadly deplored, for they
are not an edible bird nor are their harsh cries
at all musical The kittiwake is probably fully
as common gull as the bird which passes un-
der that name and it is often killed for its
flesh, which, though not very palatable, is
considered in many places to be good tonic.
One supposed-to-be invalid came down on
Long Island to find health and strength
number of years ago, and hearing that the
kittiwake was celebrated as tonic, he bought
six of them and ate them to sharpen his appe-
tite for dinner. Afterward he complained that
he was no more hungry than when he began.
The spring of the year is the best time to see
the see-fowl in the bays especially where the
shore is low and each sand bar protrudes a
foot or so above the surface of the 5vater at low
tide. Then it is that the birds sit all along the
edge of the water, in rows or tocks, and
patiently fish. 1t is sight that the sojourners
at the seashore during the summertime enjoy,
to watch the fowl at work, The gulls no long
er skim over the water with majestic flight, but
they run about ON the sand bars, picking up
the fishes that the retreating tide has stranded,
or dive from some headland into the shallow
water. On neighboring mussel bank, just
made bare by the water, flock of oyster-catch
ers are turning over the shells, and silently
eating their dinner flock of bright-ringed
plOvers suddenly appear upon the scene and
run along the edge of the sand bars so fast that
their dainty little legs can scarcely be SEEM
On the ocean side of the beach flock of surf
snipe fly back and forth for a time, as if una
BILE to select feeding ground. Then, having
decided upon a place, they suddenly settle
down, and scatter far and wide over the sands,
venturing far out toward the incoming waves,
and running rapidly up on the beach as the
waves roll up. Then, as the waters retreat,
that may be caught in the eddying tide.
A small troop of curlews are found here and
there along the coast, and they usually take
the first alarm when danger approaches. They
sound the alarm at once, and instantly the
plovers and dunlins will be seen hurrying to-
gether, ready to rise in a flock. The oyster
catchers cease their labors, and raise their heads
in listening attitudes. All is still after the first
alarm of the curlews is given, but should it be
repeated snipe, dunlins, plovers and gulls will
suddenly rise ON the wing, uttering plaintive
cries, and gradually separating into different
parties.
Owing to the watchfulness of these birds the
gunners have but poor show of creeping up
and getting many good shots at them and
so after selecting good ground they set out
their stools, and hide themselves in the neigh
boring grass hills. This is about the only way
that the snipe can be enticed within easy gun
range, although occasionally, by initiating
their whistle, flock can be induced to fly over
the head. But this requires great experience
and great arefulness.-Harper's Weekly.