50 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



free to the base, and a smaller hind-toe. Wings 

 long ; tail rather long. Head of moderate size. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. General hue chestnut- 

 brown, with darker markings, and white variega- 

 tion on wings. No difference according to age, 

 sex, or season. 



YOUNG. Helpless, and remarkable for its extreme fat- 

 ness. 



NEST. A thick, round, open structure of mud, placed 

 in convenient places on the walls of caves. They 

 nest in colonies. 



EGGS. Two or more ; white. 



FOOD. Chiefly, if not entirely, fruit ; this being the 

 only fruit-eating night-bird. The stones of the 

 fruit eaten are ejected from the mouth. 



GAIT. They seem hardly to move about on foot, 

 picking their food from the trees while on the 

 wing. 



FLIGHT. Powerful. 



NOTE. A harsh scream and clatter. 



DISPOSITION AND HABITS. This bird is nocturnal, 

 frequenting caves during the day. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. It is of great utility, the young 

 supplying a large quantity of oil, which is much 

 prized locally, whence the name " Oil-bird " often 

 given to the species. 



CAPTIVITY. The bird has been exhibited at the London 

 Zoological Gardens. 



DISTRIBUTION. The single species known (Steator- 

 nis caripensis) is confined to Northern South 

 America and Trinidad. 



GULLS (Larida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Long-winged birds, with front toes more 



or less webbed, small hind-toe, and slit-like nostrils. 



SIZE. From that of a small goose to that of a starling. 



