Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-11-17

millions Of Them on the south Atlantic
and Paclno Corata

Millions OF Them on the Snuth Atlanti
and Pacific Coasts
The gulls constitute the feathere,
ornaments OF our harOors and shores
their singularly graceful flight. long
slender wings and striking contrasts il
black and white rendering them par
.iculariy attractive On the vaTiou
portions OF the Atlantic and Pacifit
coasts their breeding places are found
but il is Ia the south iIi Isolated region,
that they are seen TO the in.,t advan
fage and 10 greatest numbers Those
Who are familiar with an occasional
white winged form tlnsliing over the
waters of the harbor or bay can forIu
but little conception OF the appearance
pf these birds en- luasSe IN the hoiues oi
Jheir 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
My first visit to the key was made
while examining the wreck of a large
ship that had grounded in years before
and was 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 noated
over the spot Polling the boat over
the reef in that direction soon solved
the mystery The cloud was alive.
mass of active fuss and feathers; birds.
birds by the million, so it seemed. One
or two came out to meet us, and now a
distinct murmuring sound was heard.
growing louder and louder as we ap-
preached. until soon the roar was deaf
ening
The terms now left the island by
scores and hundreds, flying about the
boat with wild cries, darting 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 OH the sandy beach, our voices
were lost, and we could only hear each
other by screaming. This had sin
gular effect, as on the second every in.
dividual ceased its clatter; silence pro
found seemed to reign. and the birds
dived or swooped down as if in fear. to
rise again and continue the avian up
roar.
The sight was a most remarkable one.
Tho birds I,f Ii, 81 l.. l.,
headed tern and the noddy the former
beautiful creatures, with dark heads
and bright, intelligent eyes, veritabIe
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 the !
ground, the noddies in rude nests upon !
the trees.
The island or key occupied several |
acres, perhaps twenty, and was GOV
cred with a low scrub of bay cedar
nowhere more than ten feet in height.
with here and there patch of cactus
or prickily pear The birds had pre-
smpted every foot of the ground. so
hat it was difficult to step or move in
he bush without treading upon the
speckled eggs
The domestic arrangements were
simple enough, as the eggs were
Matched by the sun and hot sand that
cooled but little during the night from
'he baking it received during the day.
The only enemies the birds had were
'he hermit crabs, that constitute the
settlers of the island. San
Francisco Chronicle.