VOL. VI.] SIBBALD'S PRODROMUS. 5l 



The Greatest Ash-grey Gull, the Herring Gull. 



The Lesser Ash-grey Gull, the common Sea-Mew [the 



Common Gull]. 

 With the Gulls are classed Cataractes. 

 Our species is equal in size to the Wood-goose, with black, 



hooked claws. A picture of it is given in our plates 



[Plate 14 of the " Prodromus "]. 

 It is a rapacious bird, and devours Teal and birds of a 



like size [the Great Skua]. 

 Larus major albus, the Sea-Mew. 



The Smaller Gulls. 



Hirundo Marina, Sterna of Turner. The Pictarne of our 

 countrymen, one was shot with a bullet in the island of 

 Keith by that learned Knight, Sir Andrew Balfour, 

 while we were in company together there. [One of the 

 Terns.] 

 Birds with webbed feet and broad beaks : — 



The tame Swan. 



The wild Swan, very many of them in the North. When 

 the stiff er and harder feathers have been plucked out 

 from their skins, the softer plumage or down which 

 remains is used as a means of keeping out the cold. 

 More especially coverings for the heart and stomach are 

 commonly made from them. And from the very softest 

 of the feathers quilts are also made. 



The tame Goose. The flesh is used for food. The softer 

 feathers of this bird are used for quilts and pillows. 

 From the quills, the pens, used by writers, are prepared. 



Anser Ferus, the Common Wild Goose. 



The Goose of our country folk called the Ember Goose, 

 which is said to make its nest under the water, and also 

 to hatch out its eggs there. It is common in the 

 Orkneys [the Great Northern Diver]. 



Dunter Goose. This is also found in the Orkneys. Its 

 eggs, which are of the same size as the common Goose, 

 are found in the Island of Keith. 



The Skeeling Goose, of which it is said that grains of 

 pepper are found in its stomach, but this is by no means 

 certain. 



Bernicla or Bernacla, or Clakis. About this bird many 



fables are related, it will therefore be as well to record 



its true history. 



A complete treatise was wi'itten about this bird by Michael 



Megyerus which he entitled " De Volucre Arborea," wherein 



