BRITISH BIRDS. }6j 



rathei long forked tails, and their long narrow wings, 

 which project beyond the end of the tail when folded ; top 

 of head to nape jet black ; throat, breast, and belly white ; 

 other parts pale slate blue ; outer edge of primaries darker. 

 Length, 1 foot 2 inches. The eggs are three in number, 

 and are laid on sand, rocks, shingle, or grass, without any 

 nest. They vary greatly in appearance, being blue, yellow, 

 green, brown, or stone colour, spotted witli grey, black, 

 and brown. Both sexes divide the duty of incubation. 



Arctic Terx. — This bird is scarcely distinguishable 

 from the last, but it has a long tail, the bill is coral red, 

 and the legs and toes deep red. It is common in the north 

 of England, Scotland, and Ireland, where it breeds freely. 

 No two eggs are exactly alike. It measures 1 foot 3 inches 

 in total length. Sexes alike. 



Black Terx. — It is rather very dark slate blue than 

 black, except on the top of the head and throat ; the bill is 

 dark grey, and the legs and feet greyish red. It frequents 

 marshes, bogs, and fens, where it breeds. In Italy it is 

 eaten. Length, 10 inches; female a little less. Food — 

 insects, small frogs, etc. 



THE SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS. 



None of these birds are very numerous in Britain, and 

 we have only room to notice two of them very briefly 

 here ; they have been grouped together to form the 



Family — Procelldriidcu. 



Genus — 1. l^uffinus. P. anghnini. Manx Shearwater. 

 2. Procellaria. P. pelagica. Stormy Petrel. 



Manx Shearwater. — Very gull-like in form, this bird 

 differs considerably from the Larid.e in many respects; 



