310 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



ed with dark brown. The young, as soon as hatched, walk 

 about among the rocks, patiently waiting the return of their 

 parents, who supply them amply with food until they be- 

 come able to fly, after which, as among the true rapacious 

 birds, they are driven off and abandoned to their own 

 resources. 



This species, like others, does not attain its complete plu- 

 mage until the third year, and Mr. A. is of opinion that L. 

 argcntatoidcs is no more than the immature bird. He was 

 led also to this belief bv seeincr both birds, as described 

 by authors, breeding together. The eggs and young are 

 eatable, the latter taken before they are able to fly, are 

 pickled in large quantities, and used in Newfoundland for 

 winter provision. 



The length of the Black-Backed Gull is nearly 30 inches ; the 

 alar stretch 5 feet 9 or 10 inches. The female about 2 inches smaller. 

 — Winter plumage of the old birds; with the summit of the head, 

 region of the eyes, occiput and nape, white, but with all the feathers 

 longitudinally streaked with pale brown. Front, throat, neck, all 

 the lower parts, back and tail, pure white. Top of the back, scapu- 

 lars, and wings deep black, appearing clouded with bluish. Quills 

 towards their ends black, all terminating in a large white space. 

 Bill whitish-yellow, the angle of the lower mandible bright red. 

 Orbits red. Iris bright yellow marbled with brown. Feet of a dull 

 white. 



In the summer or breeding plumage, the summit of the head, re- 

 gion of the eyes, occiput and nape are perfectly white without any 

 brown spot : the orbits orange, but the rest of the plumage as in 

 winter. 



JAGERS. (Lestris, Tlliger.) 



With the bill moderate, robust, hard, cylindric, sharp-edged, 

 compressed, and hooked at the tip ; upper mandible with the ridge 

 and tip distinct, and covered beyond the nostrils by a cere ; the 



