COMMON GULL 141 



which to settle. Although all snipe la\- relatively large eggs, 

 the relative proportion between eggs and bird is most marked in the 

 present species, a clutch of four of the former being reported to weigh 

 an ounce and a half, or not more than three-quarters of an ounce less 

 than the parent bird. In this connection it may be mentioned that 

 birds whose young are hatched in an advanced and active condition 

 lay proportionately larger eggs than those whose young are callow 

 and helpless. A snipe, for instance, is about the size of a blackbird, 

 but its eggs are very much larger than those of the latter. The nest 

 and eggs of the present species were first obtained in Lapland. B}- 

 epicures the flesh of the jack-snipe is considered superior in flavour to 

 that of other species. 



Common Gull ^^^^ ordinary gull, or sea-mew, is the typical repre- 

 (Larus canus). ^^"^^^^^'^ "o^ o"^^ of the gulls in general, but like- 

 wise of a group of birds comprising the gulls, terns, 

 or skuas, but excluding the petrels, whose superficial resemblance to 

 the three former is due to adaptation to the same mode of life, and is 

 in no way indicative of genetic affinit}-. This group, the Gavia; (or 

 Lariformes, as it is called b\' some writers), is so closely allied to the 

 waders, or Limicola;, that many authorities consider that the two 

 should be regarded merely as a section of a single group, since both 

 agree in almost all essential structural features. A convincing proof 

 of the near relationship of the gulls and terns to the waders is afforded 

 indeed by the similarity between their eggs, which is so close that 

 many of the so-called plovers' eggs of the dealers are really terns' eggs. 

 It is true, on the other hand, that the gulls, as the entire group may 

 often be conveniently termed, differ from the waders by the more or 

 less complete webbing of their toes ; but this is purely an adaptive 

 feature, due to the more aquatic habits of the former, although, as a 

 matter of fact, the avocet exhibits an almost complete transition in 

 this respect between ordinary waders and certain representatives of the 

 terns. The colour of the adult plumage of the two groups is again 

 markedly different, that of the gulls and terns being characterised by 

 the prevalence of pearly grey and white, relieved in many instances by 

 dark brown or black on the head or back, or both together. This, 

 however, is obviously a special adaptive modification to the marine 

 habits of the group, just in the same manner as the mottled greys, 

 browns, and blacks of the waders are specially suited to the environ- 

 ment of that group. In this connection it may be noted that the 

 uniformly mottled grey plumage of immature gulls and terns is far 



