284 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



the head, neck, tail, and underparts pure white, the 

 mantle gray, and the primaries black and white ; 

 but, on a near inspection, it will be found that the 

 distribution of these colours varies in each, especially 

 as regards the primaries ; that the colours of the 

 bills and legs are different ; and that the birds them- 

 selves differ in size and structure. 



In the Herring Gull the bill is yellow, with the 

 angle of the under mandible red ; eyelids, orange ; 

 irides, straw yellow; legs and toes, flesh colour. It 

 would be difficult to choose a prettier study than a 

 fine old bird of this species standing in bold relief 

 against the dark limestone rock, a bunch of samphire 

 at its feet, and by its side the large and comfortable 

 nest, with its blotched and spotted eggs. The nest 

 is usually made of dry grass, but a foundation is 

 often laid of large dry stalks of heath or sea-weed. 

 We have seldom found more than three eggs in a 

 nest; and having frequently counted but three young 

 birds, it may be inferred that this is the usual com- 

 plement. The young, when first hatched and lying 

 still in the nest, so closely resemble the eggs in 

 colour that it is difficult to distinguish or count 

 them. It is not until they have begun to get the 



