Thus calculated Lucien, and his calculation was not far from the truth.
The strange bird then could be no gull.

What was it?
A swan?
No.

Its mode of flight answered that question at once.

It bore no resemblance whatever to the short rapid flapping of the swan, nor to the flight of any water-bird.

Was it a pelican?
or perhaps a white ibis (_Tantalus alba_)?
or the white egret heron (_Ardea egretta_)?
No; it was none of these.