GULLS. 81 



lead-colored, but is soon covered with long, 

 white down. 



Flight, when the birds are moving from 

 place to place, steady, strong, with slow wing 

 beats, but when in pursuit of other birds, 

 very rapid and exceedingly graceful. Cries, 

 harsh, loud, and resilent. Food is chiefly 

 procurred by robbing other birds of fishes. 

 Highly gregarious, even breeding in commu- 

 nities. Sexes, not similar. Tropical and sub- 

 tropical. 



52. MAN 0' WAR BIED. 



Very large, 40; male, black throughout, 

 back, lustrous with green and purple, fig. 50. 

 Female with breast and sides whitish. Young, 

 white beneath. Tropical and sub-tropical 

 coast regions chiefly north of the equator. 

 Breeds as far north as the Bahamas, Fla., and 

 Texas. Accidental in Pa., 0., Kan., Tex., and 

 Nova Scotia, 



Several together may frequently be seen 

 floating high in air over harbors or islands. 



