THE TARROCK — THE BLACK-TOED GULL. 181 



The KiTTiWAKE, Skua the huge, the Black-toed, 

 Over hill, over dale, all triumphantly rode ; — 

 While the Co MMon, well known as the minstrel's Sea- 

 mew, 

 Of whom Byron sings in his feeling " Adieu," 

 Soar'd aloft with wild screaming, and waving in light 

 His downy plum'd pinions of delicate white. 



There were, too, some Warblers of soft plaintive 

 note : 

 The Red-start — the Wheat-ear, and he with 

 White-Throat ; 



pound ; back wliitish-hoary ; quill feathers white ; head, neck, 

 belly, and tail snowy ; wings hoary. Inliabits Europe, Asia, and 

 America; found also, and breeds, in this country, but rarely in 

 the southern parts of the island. 



Besides these, many other species are sometimes found in 

 this country ; the CrepidutuSj or Black-toed Gull; — ihe A tri- 

 ciW«, or Laughing-Gull of Montagu, called also Baltner's 

 Great Ash-coloured Sea-mew; — the Catarractes, Skua 

 Gull, or Brown Gull, weighs three pounds, and is two feet 

 long; — and the iVtcmMS, or Wag el-Gull, The Winter-Gull, 

 Winter-mew, or Coddy Moddy, is said to be nothing more than 

 the common gull in the second year's plumage. 



The eggs of gulls are collected and eaten in some parts of 

 Great Britain, as well as in other countries. The flesh of most 

 of the tribe is generally considered too rank for food. The 

 feathers would, it is presumed, make good beds; it seems singu- 

 lar that they have not been collected for such purpose : per- 

 haps, however, they may be too oily. 



" Buoyantly on high, 

 The Sea Gulls ride weaving a sportive dance, 

 And turning to the sun their snowy plumes." 



A Blackwood s Mag, 1822. 



