WATER -SKIMMERS AND FLYERS. 1/3 



while they take no further notice of the intruder than 

 to pick viciously at his legs. Here, often, on the very 

 spot where this long-winged bird is cradled, a pen- 

 'guin may afterwards bring up a nestling whose wings 

 bear no feathers." 



Gulls of many varieties skim about the sea and the 

 inland lakes. They belong with the birds that have 

 strong flying power, with bills for fishing, and webbed 

 toes for swimming, when it is necessary to sit on the 

 water. Their nests are made in the sand of the beach. 

 There are many varieties of gulls. 



The tern, or sea-swallow, may be counted as one of 

 these. Pearly white, gentle and harmless, with small 

 red legs and webbed toes, it does much to relieve the 

 soberness of the sea-coast. But the ladies' hats have 

 demanded its life. What would old Pliny say if he 

 were here, and should find that forty thousand of these 

 lovely birds were slain in one year, merely to get their 

 wings for ornaments? 



The pelican has full- webbed feet; that is, a web 

 joins all four toes instead of three of them as in the 

 case of the duck. It is found 

 on the Florida coast, and has 

 a bill about a foot long. At- 

 tached to its under jaw, is a 

 pouch which holds a gallon, 

 or perhaps six pounds of fish. Pe iican's root. 



Into this bag the game is re- 

 ceived as soon as it is caught, when the bird retires to a 

 sunny beach and devours the food. There is something 

 here to remind one of the cheek pouches of some monk- 

 eys, and of the stomachs of cud-chewing animals. 



