392 Birds. 



grass ; and, as it is reported, places it among the rushes, 

 in order that it may rise and fall with the water. Their 

 eggs are of the size of those of a pigeon, six or seven in 

 number, and of a dull white colour, marked with small 

 brownish spots ; but it appears that they sometimes lay 

 ten or twelve eggs, for Buffon remarks that that number 

 of young are seen in clusters on the pools, feeding on 

 cresses, chervil, and some other weeds, as well as upon 

 seeds and small insects that swarm in the water. The 

 flesh of the Teal is a great delicacy in the winter season, 

 and has less of the fishy flavour than any of the wild 

 duck kind. It is known to breed and remain through- 

 out the year in various temperate climates of the world, 

 and is in the summer met with as far northward as 

 Iceland. 



THE COMMON GULL. (Laruscanus.) 



THE GULLS, of which there are a great many different 

 kinds, are very common birds around our coasts and at 

 the mouths of rivers ; they have long wings, and fly 

 with great rapidity and buoyancy. Their plumage is 

 thick, and they float very lightly on the surface of the 

 water, but do not dive. The Gulls are very voracious, 

 and not only devour great quantities of fishes, shell- 

 fish, and other marine animals, but even condescend to 

 feed upon the dead bodies of animals which they find 

 floating on the water or cast up on the shore. Some of 

 the smaller kinds come inland, and catch insects on the 

 wing, in the same way as the Swallows. 



The Common Gull is rather a large species, being 

 more than eighteen inches in length when full grown. 

 Its plumage is pearly grey above and white beneath ; 

 the largest wing feathers are black, with white tips 

 and white spots near the tip ; and the bill and feet are 

 greenish grey. This bird breeds in the salt marshes or 

 on the ledges of cliffs. The female lays two or three 

 eggs, which are olive brown, with dark brown and black 

 spots. 



It is a very pretty sight to watch from the top of a 

 lofty cliff the multitudes of these birds that often haunt 



