CHAPTER XXXI 



GULLS AND TERNS AT HOME 



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Hekring Gull. 



Gull Island was only a great sand heap, anchored by 

 rocks and covered with coarse grass ; but the children 

 had hardly taken a few steps along the beach when they 

 began to exclaim at the number of strange birds. Some 

 were flying, others walking about on the sand, where 

 there were many tufts of grass and mats of seaAveeds 

 that looked as if they had been used for nests. Dodo 

 nearly stepped upon a couple of greenish, dark-spotted 

 eggs, that were nearly as large as a Hen's. 



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