LETTER XVI. 



113 



breeding stations, the juveniles fall an easy prey owing to the 

 confiding simplicity of their youth. These, of course, are easily 

 distinguished by their smaller size and dull plumage. The same 

 is the case with other birds which breed upon the spot, such as 

 Sea-pyets, Pigeons, Gulls, Scarts, &c. In winter the number 

 of Gulls in their dark-brown plumage is decidedly much greater 

 than that of the old white ones. This applies to the small and 

 large species. It is very remarkable in the case of Gulls how 

 much less sensible of danger these immature birds are than the 

 elders of the flocks ; the latter will not generally allow themselves 

 to be approached openly without taking wing, and in their flight 

 they usually alter their course to avoid danger ; but the younger 

 members are quite heedless of danger. The Herring Gull is the 

 commonest of the larger birds, though the Black Backs are 

 numerous too. Nearly all the Cormorants that are killed during 

 the winter are birds of the year ; but this letter is too near its 

 conclusion to begin to treat of Scarts, so I will leave them till 

 another opportunity. 







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