CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



four sprats at once. The Guillemots (Uria), which 

 are found in all parts of the north of Europe and 

 in the Arctic Seas, resemble the auks in the form 

 of their bodies, and in their general habits. The 

 Razor-bill (Alca torda) also belongs to this family. 



In the family Colymbida (Divers), the wings are 

 remarkably short, and the feet placed so far be- 

 hind the point of equilibrium of the body, that 

 they are ill adapted for walking. The Northern 

 Diver (Colymbus fiadalis) is a familiar example. 

 It is generally an inhabitant of the most northern 

 parts of the Old and New World ; but on the 

 approach of winter, it journeys southward, and 

 is then occasionally found in Scotland. On the 

 least alarm it dives under the water, rising per- 

 haps a quarter of a mile from the spot where it 

 disappeared. The Grebes (Podiceps) are more 

 inland in their habits, living chiefly on the borders 

 of lakes. The toes are separate, but each has a 

 fin-like membrane along the side, presenting a 

 considerable surface to the water. Of these, 

 five species are found in our country, the most 

 familiar being the Little Grebe (P. minor}, and 

 are largely killed for their feathers, which are 

 used for making muffs, collars, c. The Alcidae 

 and Colymbidze are included by Owen under one 

 family, which he calls the BrevipennatcE), in which 

 the wings are short, and the legs are placed far back, 

 so as to render progression on land very difficult. 



The family of the Laridce (Gulls) have well- 

 developed, powerful wings, the three anterior toes 

 united by a membrane, and the hinder one free. 

 They feed on the carcasses that float in the sea, or 

 are cast upon its shores. Genus Larus (Gulls 

 proper) : The Common Gull (L. vulgaris) is about 

 one foot and a half in length, and three feet in the 

 expanse of its wings ; above, it is of a bluish-gray 

 colour, and white beneath. On the approach of 

 stormy weather, it leaves the shore, and sails round 

 and round in circles at a great elevation. Genus 

 Sterna (Terns), or Sea-swallows, are so called from 

 the resemblance they bear to the Land-swallow in 

 their pointed wings and forked tail. Their food 

 consists of molluscs and fish. The tern is often 

 seen chasing a small gull, in order to force it to 

 disgorge the fish it may have taken. As soon as 

 the fish has been dropped, the tern descends like 

 an arrow, and generally succeeds in catching it 

 before it reaches the water. The Common Tern 

 (S. hinindo), which is about fourteen inches in 

 length, visits our shores in April, leaving in Sep- 

 tember. Genus Lestris (Skuas) are more powerful 

 birds than the terns. The Common Skua (L. 

 parasiticus) is about two feet in length, and its 

 general colour is a reddish-brown. Their peculiar 

 habitat in this country is the Shetland Isles, 

 where they breed in communities on unfrequented 

 heaths. When the breeding is over, they retire to 

 the sea, and feed upon fish-offal and animal matter. 



The Procellarida (Petrels) differ from the 

 Gulls in having no hinder toe, and having the 

 upper mandible strongly hooked. The name 

 Petrel (a diminutive of Peter) is given to these 

 birds from their habit of walking on the waves. 

 The common one (P. pelagica), called by mariners 

 ' Mother Carey's Chickens,' is found in most seas. 

 When it seeks shelter upon vessels, it is generally 

 supposed as indicative of storms and shipwrecks. 

 The largest member of the group is the gigantic 

 Albatross (Diomedea exulans), which often meas- 

 ures fifteen feet across the wings. Its flight 



168 



is very powerful, and it is often found at enor- 

 mous distances from land in the northern and 

 southern oceans. It is very voracious, and is 

 said to destroy great numbers of flying-fish when 

 they are forced to seek refuge in the air. 



Owen included the two former groups under his 

 family of Longipennatce, which are characterised by 

 their well-developed wings, by their pointed, some- 

 times hooked bill, and by their hinder toe never 

 being united to the anterior toes by a membrane. 



The PelicanidcE (Pelicans) have the hinder toe 

 directed inwards, and united to the innermost of 

 the anterior toes by a membrane. The European 

 Pelican is about as large as a swan, and alto- 

 gether white. Attached to its long slender bill is 



Pelican (Pekcanus onocrotalus). 



a large neck-pouch, in which the fish are stored 

 when captured. Nearly allied to the pelicans is 

 the genus Phalacrocorax (Cormorants), in which 

 the lower mandible is not furnished with a pouch, 

 but the throat is capable of considerable dilata- 

 tion. The Black Cormorant (P. carbd) is about 

 the size of a goose, and is of a bronze-black colour. 

 It is common on our shores, and is proverbial for 

 its voracity. The Fishing Cormorant (P. sinensis) 

 is an inhabitant of China, and is regularly trained 

 and employed in fishing. Genus Sula (Gannet, 

 or Solan Goose) : These birds take their prey by 

 hovering in the air at some little distance above 

 the surface, and then dropping down upon any 

 fish that they may see rising within their reach. 

 They haunt the cliffs of solitary islands, for the 

 purpose of bringing forth their young. The Bass 

 Rock in the Firth of Forth, and Ailsa in the 

 Firth of Clyde, are noted habitations of the Solan. 

 It is eatable, but forms rather a coarse dish for 

 most palates. The Frigate Bird (Trachypetes 

 aquilas), which is distinguished by the immense 

 length and power of its wing, and is often found 

 far from land, and the Darter (Plotus), also belong 

 to this group. The Pelicanidtz are called by 

 Owen the Totipalmatee, because they have the 

 hinder toe directed inwards, and united to the 

 innermost of the anterior toes by a membrane. 



Family Anatidce (Ducks) have the bill flattened 

 in form, and covered with a soft membrane. The 

 edges of the bill are furnished with a series of 

 transverse plates, forming a kind of strainer for 

 gathering food in a watery element. Of the genus 

 Cygnus (Swan), the most remarkable wild species 

 is the Hooper or Whistling Swan (C.ferus) of the 

 Arctic Seas, which migrates southwards in flocks, 

 under a leader, and ranged in the form of the letter 



