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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Never mind。 It will soon show itself again。
But what was it？
The whale： one of them； at least； for the men say there are two
different ones about the bay。 That black wheel was part of his back； as he
turned down； and the tooth on it was his back…fin。
But the noise； like a giant's cough？
Rather like the blast of a locomotive just starting。 That was his
breath。
What？ as loud as that？
Why not？ He is a very big fellow； and has big lungs。
How big is he？
I cannot say： perhaps thirty or forty feet long。 We shall be able to
see better soon。 He will come up again； and very likely nearer us； where
those birds are。
I don't want him to come any nearer。
You really need not be afraid。 He is quite harmless。
But he might run against the yacht。
He might： and so might a hundred things happen which never do。
But I never heard of one of these whales running against a vessel； so I
suppose he has sense enough to know that the yacht is no concern of his；
and to keep out of its way。
But why does he make that tremendous noise only once； and then go
under water again？
You must remember that he is not a fish。 A fish takes the water in
through his mouth continually； and it runs over his gills； and out behind
through his gill…covers。 So the gills suck…up the air out of the water； and
send it into the fish's blood； just as they do in the newt…larva。
Yes； I know。
But the whale breathes with lungs like you and me； and when he goes
under water he has to hold his breath； as you and I have。
What a long time he can hold it。
Yes。 He is a wonderful diver。 Some whales； they say； will keep
under for an hour。 But while he is under； mind； the air in his lungs is
getting foul； and full of carbonic acid； just as it would in your lungs； if you
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
held your breath。 So he is forced to come up at last： and then out of his
blowers； which are on the top of his head； he blasts out all the foul breath；
and with it the water which has got into his mouth； in a cloud of spray。
Then he sucks in fresh air； as much as he wants； and dives again； as you
saw him do just now。
And what does he do under water？
Lookand you will see。 Look at those birds。 We will sail up to
them； for Mr。 Whale will probably rise among them soon。
Oh； what a screaming and what a fighting！ How many sorts there are！
What are those beautiful little ones； like great white swallows； with
crested heads and forked tails； who hover； and then dip down and pick up
something？
Ternssea…swallows。 And there are gulls in hundreds； you see； large
and small； gray…backed and black…backed； and over them all two or three
great gannets swooping round and round。
Oh！ one has fallen into the sea！
Yes； with a splash just like a cannon ball。 And here he comes up
again； with a fish in his beak。 If he had fallen on your head； with that
beak of his； he would have split it open。 I have heard of men catching
gannets by tying a fish on a board； and letting it float； and when the gannet
strikes at it he drives his bill into the board； and cannot get it out。
But is not that cruel？
I think so。 Gannets are of no use； for eating； or anything else。
What a noise！ It is quite deafening。 And what are those black birds
about； who croak like crows； or parrots？
Look at them。 Some have broad bills； with a white stripe on it； and
cry something like the moor…hens at home。 Those are razor… bills。
And what are those who say 〃marrock；〃 something like a parrot？
The ones with thin bills？ they are guillemots； 〃murres〃 as we call them
in Devon： but in some places they call them 〃marrocks；〃 from what they
say。
And each has a little baby bird swimming behind it。 Oh！ there： the
mother has cocked up her tail and dived； and the little one is swimming
about looking for her！ How it cries！ It is afraid of the yacht。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
And there she comes up again； and cries 〃marrock〃 to call it。
Look at it swimming up to her； and cuddling to her； quite happy。
Quite happy。 And do you not think that any one who took a gun and
shot either that mother or that child would be both cowardly and cruel？
But they might eat them。
These sea…birds are not good to eat。 They taste too strong of fish…oil。
They are of no use at all； except that the gulls' and terns' feathers are put
into girls' hats。
Well they might find plenty of other things to put in their hats。
So I think。 Yes： it would be very cruel； very cruel indeed； to do
what some do； shoot at these poor things； and leave them floating about
wounded till they die。 But I suppose； if one gave them one's mind about
such doings； and threatened to put the new Sea Fowl Act in force against
them； and fine them； and show them up in the newspapers； they would say
they meant no harm； and had never thought about its being cruel。
Then they ought to think。
They ought； and so ought you。 Half the cruelty in the world； like half
the misery； comes simply from people's not thinking； and boys are often
very cruel from mere thoughtlessness。 So when you are tempted to rob
birds' nests； or to set the dogs on a moorhen； or pelt wrens in the hedge；
think； and sayHow should I like that to be done to me？
I know： but what are all the birds doing？
Look at the water； how it sparkles。 It is alive with tiny fish； 〃fry；〃
〃brett〃 as we call them in the West； which the mackerel are driving up to
the top。
Poor little things！ How hard on them！ The big fish at them from
below； and the birds at them from above。 And what is that？ Thousands of
fish leaping out of the water； scrambling over each other's backs。 What a
curious soft rushing roaring noise they make！
Aha！ The eaters are going to be eaten in turn。 Those are the
mackerel themselves； and I suspect they see Mr。 Whale； and are
scra