Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-11-06
euLLs IN CLOUDS.
Millions Ct Them on the south Atlantic
and Pacific Coasts.

and Pacific Coasts.
The gulls constitute the feathered
ornaments of our harbors and shores.
their singularly graceful flight, long.
slender wings and striking contrasts II
black and white rendering them par
ticularly attractive. On the various
portions of the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts their breeding places are found,
but il is In the south in isolated regions
that they are seer TO the best advan-
tage and in greatest numbers. Those
who are familiar with al occasional
white winged form flashing over the
waters Of the harbor or bay can form
but little conception OF the appearance
of these birds en- masse in the homes OF
their choice. On the southern borders
Of the United States there are several
localities famous as bird collecting
places. but none more interesting than
Bird KEY in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ny first visit To the key was made
while examining the wreck OF "a large
ship that had grounded in years before
and was a conspicuous object about
two miles from the key. From the old
wreck | noticed a singular dark cloud
hanging low over the island, as though
some mysterious smoke had risen from
an invisible source and now tiOated
over the spot Polling the boat over
the reef in that direction | Dol solved
the mystery. The cloud was alive, a
mass Of active fuss and feathers; birds,
birds by the million, so ii seemed. One
or two came out To meet Us. and now a
distinct %murmuring sound was heard,
growing louder and louder as we APP
preached, until soon the oar was deal.
ening
The terms now left the island by
scores and hundreds, flying about the
boat with wild cries, darling down with
menacing gesture. Myriads that had
been upon the ground rose, and what
had been an indefinite cloud became an
almost solid mass of birds. creating a
noise like thunder. so that as our boat
crunched on the sandy beach, our voices
were lost, and we could only hear each
other by screaming. This had a sin.
gular effect. as on the second every in.
dividual ceased its clatter; silence pro
found seemed to reign, and the bird.
Owed or swooped down as If in fear, &c
rise again and continue the avian up
roar.
The sight was a most remarkable one
The birds were Of two kinds-the blad,
headed tern and the noddy-the formeI
beautiful creatures. with dark head
and bright, intelligent eyes. veritabl,
spirits of the air and gale as they
fitted about, while the noddies. which
were sparsely represented, were dark
with a pale, light patch upon the head
The gulls laid their eggs upon tn
hground. the noodles ia rude nests upOI
/, the trees.
The island or key occupied severs
acres. perhaps twenty, and was GOV
cred with a low scrub Of bay ceda
nowhere more than ten feet in height
with here and there a patch Of cactu
or prickily pear. The birds had pre-
/, empted every foot Of the ground. -
/, that it was difficult to step or move il
, the bush without treading upon tn
attractive speckled eggs
: The domestic arrangements wer
simple enough. as the eggs wer
Matched by the sun and hot sand tina
cooled but little during the night froI
p the baking il received during the day
The only enemies the birds had wer
the hermit crabs. that constitute III
permanent settlers Of the island -Sa
Francisco Chronicle.