MERSATORES. PLUNGERS. 423 



laria, a numerous group, in Avliich are also many large species, 

 Daption, Prion, and Puffinuria, none of which have species 

 in the European seas, Puffinus, and Thalassidroma, of which 

 two of the first, and four species of the last, are reckoned in 

 our Fauna. 



The LARiN.ii, or family of the Gulls and their allies, none 

 of which approach in magnitude to the Diomedeae and Pro- 

 cellaria?, or arc so diminutive as the Thalassidromse of the 

 last family. Some authors distinguish the Lesthin^e from the 

 Larinse, as a family or sub-family, and many unite with them 

 the Stee,nin.15, Avhicli, however, might, I think, with pro- 

 priety, be kept distinct. The Larina? have the bill strong, 

 more or less decurved or declinate at the end; the wings 

 rather broad and somcAvhat rounded, the tail short or of 

 moderate length ; while in the Sterninse the bill tapers to a 

 fine point, the wings are narrow and acuminate, the tail 

 mostly rather long, and usually forked. 



About thirty-five of these birds rank as British. Some 

 are permanently resident, but the greater number migratory. 

 The males are somewhat larger than the females, and gene- 

 rally the sexes are coloured alike ; but the young are difte- 

 rently coloured from the adult, being usually mottled with 

 brown. They nestle on the ground or on rocks, laying a few 

 oval spotted eggs; but some lay in holes, and have white 

 eggs. The young, densely covered with down, are active 

 from the first ; but, unless annoyed, seldom remove from the 

 nest until they are able to fly. The flesh of tliese birds is not 

 esteemed as food ; nor are they in any way of much evident 

 utility to man. 



