. Creatures of the sea [microform] : being the life stories of some sea birds, beasts, and fishes. Marine animals; Marine fishes; Faune marine; Poissons de mer. Parental Amenities 345 lest he should. Presently he too had eaten his fill, and I noted with terror that he was swimming steadily towards my mother, who swam away, it is true, but not with any vigour, although I could see her glancing apprehensively over her shoulder at him. Presently he was by her side, and laying his great beak across her neck he caressed her gently, at the same time uttering a pleasant little musical sound entirely
. Creatures of the sea [microform] : being the life stories of some sea birds, beasts, and fishes. Marine animals; Marine fishes; Faune marine; Poissons de mer. Parental Amenities 345 lest he should. Presently he too had eaten his fill, and I noted with terror that he was swimming steadily towards my mother, who swam away, it is true, but not with any vigour, although I could see her glancing apprehensively over her shoulder at him. Presently he was by her side, and laying his great beak across her neck he caressed her gently, at the same time uttering a pleasant little musical sound entirely unlike the usual strident shriek of our people. What it meant I did not know. Curiosity overcame my fears, and I swam heavily towards the pair to see, if I could, what this behaviour meant, when to my horror the new-comer suddenly turned and, rushing at me, struck me so heavy a blow with his hooked beak that the flesh was torn off a portion of my back and my snowy plumage became red. I tried to escape, but still could hardly move, until suddenly the impulse came upon me to disgorge a portion of what I had eaten. As I did so, I felt ( sier and was able to rise. With all the strength at i / command I fled away, nor even looked behind until I regained the old spot where I had been hatched. There I waited, full of miserable apprehensions lest that terrible bird should come and destroy me. Had I only known it, or my fears ha^e allowed me to look back during my headlong fli :ht, he was not pursuing me—I was altogether beneath his notice, except when I came too near him. The day passed slowly away, but my mother did not return. I became hungry, but I was afraid to move. Flocks of my neighbours returned from their labours and settled down on their respective spots, inquisitive little birds and cunning crabs ran all about me, but I was entirely alone. In vain I strained my eyes longingly seaward, until the sudden I'i. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page image
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmarineanimals, bookye
