CARNIVOROUS BIRDS 



Gulls and Terns (fig. 341) haunt the coasts of most parts of 

 the world, and are good swimmers and flyers, though otherwise 

 they present no features of 

 striking character. It is a 

 matter of common observa- 

 tion that some gulls are by 

 no means limited to a fish 

 diet, for they may often be 

 seen some distance inland 

 searching for worms and 

 other small creatures. And 

 while some of the terns are 

 coast birds, others haunt 

 rivers, feeding not only upon 

 fish, but also on insects, 

 leeches, and the like. 



Though closely related 

 to the gulls, Skuas (fig. 342) 

 in some respects remind one I 

 of the birds of prey, for their | 



powerful beaks are hooked, Fig . 34I ._ Gulls and Terns 



and, contrary to the general 



rule, the webbed feet are provided with strong talons. These 

 features, however, must not be taken to mean affinity with rap- 

 torial birds, being sim- 

 ply an adaptation to 

 somewhat similar ha- 

 bits. The prey con- 

 sists of fish, small ma- 

 rine birds, &c., which 

 are held firmly by the 

 strong claws. Their 

 piratical habits are well 

 known, for they mostly 

 take advantage of the 

 industry of gulls and 



terns. If, for instance, a skua observes that a gull has caught a 

 fish, the result will probably be a spirited chase, resulting in the 

 abandonment of the just-swallowed prey by the frightened victim. 

 Upon this the pirate skua immediately pounces, often securing the 



Fig. 342. Skua (Stercorarius} 



