518 



LARID^S ; ALBATROSS; GULLS. 



sweeping over the surface in chase of flying-fish. It is extremely 

 voracious, being often seen to swallow at one mouthful a fish of 

 four or five pounds weight. Albatrosses are occasionally seen 

 in the northern seas ; being probably attracted thither by the 

 migrations of fish, whose shoals they follow. Notwithstanding 

 their large size, they are not courageous Birds ; being often 

 obliged to yield their prey to the Sea-Eagles, and even to the 

 larger Gulls. When they meet with abundance of food, they 

 gorge themselves until they are almost stupified, and seem to 

 doze upon the water ; and when alarmed in this state, they 

 discharge the contents of their stomachs, which are rendered 

 peculiarly offensive by the secretion of a quantity of acrid oil. 

 In these habits they strongly remind us of the Vultures. 



460. The true Gulls have the bill of moderate size, with the 

 tip hooked and acute. They have a small hind-toe, elevated 



from the ground. They 

 are found in every 

 part of the world, and 

 are omnivorous in 

 their habits; and in 

 these and other par- 

 ticulars, they may be 

 regarded as represent- 

 ing the Crows. Some 

 are found at a dis- 

 tance from the sea, 

 feeding on slugs, 

 worms, grubs ; but 

 the sea-shore is their usual haunt, and there they devour all 

 kinds of garbage that the tide brings up, together with such 

 living animals as they may obtain. They are extremely useful, 

 therefore, in removing a great deal of matter, that would other- 

 wise taint the air by its putrescence. Thus if a Whale is 

 thrown ashore in the Orkney Islands, its carcase is speedily 

 devoured by innumerable Gulls, which flock, in a wonderfully 

 short space of time, to any spot where food is to be had. They 

 frequent the neighbourhood of fishing villages ; and are very 



FIG. 300. COMMON GULL. 



