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THE SIXTH ORDER. 



PALMIPEDES OR SWIMMERS. 



The birds of this order are characterised by their feet and 

 legs formed for swimming; that is to say, placed far back 

 on the body, with short and compressed tarsi, and webs 

 between the toes. A close, shining plumage, moistened 

 by an oily secretion, and furnished near the skin with a 

 thick down, protects them from the water, on the surface 

 of which they live. They are also the only birds in 

 which the neck is longer, and sometimes considerably so, 

 than the legs ; because, while swimming on the surface, 

 they have frequent occasion to seek their food below 

 it, Cuvicr. 



ORDER PALMIPEDES. 



The Herring Gull. Silvery Gull. 

 Larus Argentatus. 



FEW persons can have frequented the shores of 

 our island, without observing and admiring the 



