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TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



numerous species of gulls to be found there. Its yellow beak, the pale 

 red feet, the snowy white plumage, blue- grey above, render this bird 

 a true ornament of the sea. Its food consists principally of fish. By 

 its long pointed wings the bird is adapted for rapid and remarkably 

 dexterous flight. Having espied a fish with its sharp eyes, the bird 

 swoops down into the water swift as 

 an arrow, and seizing its prey securely 

 in its strong beak, the upper portion of 

 which terminates in a sharp hook, it 

 swallows it whole. When fatigued, 

 the birds rest floating on the waves 

 (swimming-feet) . At ebb-tide they may 

 be seen running rapidly over the shoals 

 and sandy flats, and picking up every- 

 thing that is eatable (molluscs, star- 

 fishes, worms, etc. (webs). The gulls 

 build their nests, often in colonies of 

 thousands, on steep cliffs or on sand- 

 dunes. The eqqs are much 



HERRING AND BLACK-HEADED GULLS. 



The bird in the foreground is a herring gull, that in the background a black-headed gull, 

 about OK e- tenth natural size. 



sought after, having an agreeable flavour ; they strongly resemble those 

 of the lapwing, and are, in fact, often fraudulently placed on the market 

 as plovers' eggs. 



