274 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



food standpoint most are probably of little importance. Most are 

 excellent eating, and the Snipes probably afford more in the way 

 of sport than any other group of birds in India. 



GAVLE. 



Skuas, gulls and terns live chiefly on fish, and Crustacea, 

 a few on insects and others on carrion and refuse, and they 

 either pick their prey off the surface of the water or plunge for it. 

 Jerd. B. I. Ill, 828. The food consists mainly of fish, molluscs, 

 crustaceans and worms, but it is varied in the stronger forms by 

 small mammals, young birds and eggs. Skuas give chase to their 

 smaller kin and force them to disgorge the fishes they have just 

 caught, while even solan geese are sometimes victimized. Insects and 

 their larvae, turnips, berries and grain are also eaten by these omni- 

 vorous but useful creatures. Their main sustenance is naturally 

 derived from the ocean, or its oozy shores, but flocks are com- 

 monly seen on pastures and arable lands near the beech, or fol- 

 lowing the plough further from the sea. E. B. C. N. H., 302. 



Larince. Gulls. Fish, worms and garbage thrown from 

 ships. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 829. They feed but little on living fish, 

 chiefly on dead fish, Crustacea, and garbage of all kinds floating 

 or on the shore ; and inland they eat insects and worms, eggs ard 

 weakly or young birds. F. I. IV, 298. 



1489. Larus ichthyaetus. Great Black-headed Gull. Fish. 

 B. N. H. S. J. XV, 70. 



1490. L. ridibundus. Laughing Gull. Fish. B. N. H. S, 

 J. XV, 70. Occasionally feeds in ne,vly ploughed fields. Jerd. . 

 B. I. Ill, 832. 



1491. L. brunneicephalus. Brown-headed Gull. Fish. B. N. 

 H. S. J. XV, 70. Occasionally feeds in newly ploughed fields. 

 Jerd. B. I. Ill, 832. 



1495. L. cachinnans. Yellow-legged Herring Gull. Fish. B. 

 N. H. S. J. XV, 70. 



