50 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



free to the base, and a smaller hind-toe. Wings 

 long ; tail rather long. Head of moderate size. 



Plumage and Colouration. — General hue chestnut- 

 brown, with darker markings, and white variega- 

 tion on wings. No difference according to age, 

 sex, or season. 



Young. — Helpless, and remarkable for its extreme fat- 

 ness. 



Nest. — A thick, round, open structure of mud, placed 

 in convenient places on the walls of caves. They 

 nest in colonies. 



Eggs. — Two or more ; white. 



Food. — Chiefly, if not entirely, fruit ; this being the 

 only fruit-eating night-bird. The stones of the 

 fruit eaten are ejected from the mouth. 



Gait. — They seem hardly to move about on foot, 

 picking their food from the trees while on the 

 wing. 



Flight. — Powerful. 



Note. — A harsh scream and clatter. 



Disposition and Habits. — This bird is nocturnal, 

 frequenting caves during the day. 



Economic Qualities. — It is of great utility, the young 

 supplying a large quantity of oil, which is much 

 prized locally, whence the name ^' Oil-bird " often 

 given to the species. 



Captivity. — The bird has been exhibited at the London 

 Zoological Gardens. 



Distribution. — The single species known {Steator- 

 nis caripensis) is confined to Northern South 

 America and Trinidad. 



Gulls {Laridce). 



Diagnosis. — Long-winged birds, with front toes more 



or less webbed, small hind-toe, and slit-like nostrils. 



Size. — From that of a small goose to that of a starling. 



