20 



FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



the wing extends from sixteen to seventeen inches. The 

 adult plumage is not attained until the bird is at least two 

 years old. The young until after the first moult are of a 

 mottled dirty greyish-brown colour, lighter underneath. 

 There is a strong resemblance between the young of this 

 species and the young of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, 

 but the latter is of a darker shade — when first hatched the 

 young birds are covered with soft down, and have a very 

 pretty appearance. ) / 



