524 LARUS. GULL. 



cal, muscular ; its lateral muscles of moderate size, the lower 

 prominent, the tendons large and radiated, the epithelium 

 extremely dense, thick, with strong longitudinal ridges. 

 Intestine rather long, narrow ; coeca very small, nanow, 

 cylindrical ; rectum short, with a large glohular dilatation. 



Eyes rather small ; eyelids feathered, with hare crenulate 

 margins. Aperture of ear of moderate size, rovindish. Legs 

 of moderate length, slender ; tihia bare for a short space ; 

 tarsus rather short, somewhat compressed, covered anteriorly 

 with nimierous much-curved scutella, laterally with angular 

 scales, behind with numerous small rectangular scales. Hind 

 toe very small and elevated ; fore toes of moderate length, 

 slender, the fourth a little shorter than the third, and about 

 a fifth longer than the second, all scutellate above, and con- 

 nected by reticulated membranes, of which the anterior edge 

 is a little concave ; the lateral toes margined externally by a 

 thick scaly membrane ; the soles flat and granulated. Claws 

 small, slightly arcuate, somewhat compressed, toward the 

 end depressed, obtuse, that of the middle toe with an expanded 

 thin inner margin. 



Plumage very full, close, elastic, soft, and blended ; on 

 the back and wings somewhat compact. Feathers generally 

 oblong, or elliptical, and rounded ; on the fore part of the 

 head short. Wijigs very long, rather broad, pointed, with 

 thirty, or a few more, quills ; the primaries nearly straight, 

 tapering, obtuse, the first and second longest and about equal, 

 the rest rapidly graduated ; the secondaries broad and 

 rounded. Tail rather short, even, or slightly rounded, of 

 twelve broad, rounded feathers. 



The Gulls, which are generally distributed along the 

 coasts, from the arctic to the antarctic ice, are vagrant, vora- 

 cious birds, Avhich seek their subsistence on the shores, or on 

 the surface of the sea. They are incapable of diving, but 

 swim with ease, sitting very lightly on the water. They have 

 a strong, buoyant flight, performed by slow beats of their 

 long, extended, arched wings ; walk and run with short 

 steps ; emit a loud, clear, or harsh cry, and a succession of 

 short sounds somewhat resembling a laugh. They perform 

 a singular action with their feet upon the sands, patting them 



