464 



SWIMMING BIRDS. 



The Sea Gulls (Lavas) have the beak compressed, elongated, and 

 pointed, the npper jaw being hooked near its extremity. Their 

 nostrils, situated towards the middle of the nj^per mandible, are 

 narrow slits. These are all cowardly but voracious birds, generally 



s92.— HERIIIXG GULL. 



seen flying about near the shore, feeding upon fish or any dead 

 carcases they may happen to meet with. They make their nests in 

 the sand or in the cletts of rocks, and lay but few eggs. Sometimes 

 they are found at a considerable distance inland, Avhich is regarded 

 as a. sign of bad weather. 



The Terns or Sea Swallows {ASterna). These birds derive their 

 name from their extremely long and pointed wings, their forked tail 

 a'nd short feet, giving them an appearance and mode of flight very 

 much resembling that of the Swallows. Their beak is pointed, 

 compressed, and straight, and the membranes that web their toes 

 deeply notched, so that they swim but little, but they fly over the 

 sea with astonishing rapidity, uttering loud cries and cleverly 

 picking up from the surface of the water the mollusks and httle 

 fishes upon which they feed ; they may sometimes be seen skimming 

 over lakes and rivers in the interior of the country. 



