The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-01
euLLs IN The CLOUDS.
millions OF Thorn Soen on tho South At
lantIo md Pacific Coast,

-
lantIo md Pacific Coast,
The gulls constitute the feathercd or
naments of our harbors and shores,
their singularly graceful flight, long,
slender wings and striking contrasts in
black and white rendering them par
ticularly attractive, says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. On the various por-
lions of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
their breeding places are found, but it is
In the south, in isolated regions, that
they are seen to tho best advantage and
In greatest numbers. Those who arc fa.
miliar with an occasional white winged
form flushing over the waters OF tho
harbor or bay can form but little con-
ception of the appearance of those
choice birds ell massc in the home of
their choice. On the southern borders of
the United States there are several To-
calitics famous rs bird collecting
places. but none moro interesting than
Bird Key, i'll the Gulf of Mexico
My first visit to the key was made
while examining the wreck of Il large
ship that had grounded in years before
and was u conspicuous object about two
miles from the key. From the old
wreck / noticed 4 singular dark cloud
hanging low over the island, rs though
some mysterious smoke had risen from
some invisible source and now floated
over the spot. Polling the boat over the
reef in TINT direction soon solved the
mystery. The cloud was alive, n mass
of active fuss and feathers; birds, birds
by the million, so it seemed. One or
two came to meet us, and now distinct
mi
louder and louder rs we approached,
until soon the ronr was dcafcning.
The terms now left the island by
scores and hundreds, flying about the
boat with wild cries, tarting down with
menacing gestures. Myriads that had
been upon the ground rose and what
had been an indefinite cloud became an
almost solid mass of birds, creating u
noise like thunder, so that rs our boat
crunchcd on the sandy beach our voices
were lost and we could only hear each
other by screaming. This had singu-
lar effect, as on the second every indi-
vidual ceased its clatter silence pro-
found seemed to reign and the birds
divcd or swoopcd down as if in fear
TO rise again and continue the avian up
roar.
The sight was n most rclnarl1ab bio
one. The birds were Of two kinds-the
blnde-headed tern and the noddy-the
former beautiful creatures, with dark
heads and bright intelligent eyes, veri-
table spirits of the air and gale rs tn cy
fitted about; while the noodles, which
were sparsely represented, were dark,
with pale light patch upon the head
The gulls laid their eggs upon tho
ground, the noddics in rude nests upon
the trees.
The island or key occupied several
acres, perhaps twenty, and was covered
with n low scrub of bay cedar nowhere
more than ten feet in height, with hero
and there patch of cactus or prickly
pear. The birds had preemptcd every
foot of ground, SO that it was difficult
to step or move in the bush without
treading upon the attractive specified
eggs.
The domestic arrangements were sim
pie enough, as the eggs were Matched
by the sun and hot sand that cooled
but little during the night from the
baking it received during the day. The
only enemies the birds had were the
hermit crabs, that constitute the perma
nent settlers of the island