ALRATROSS. GULLS. SEA-SWALLOWS. 103 



13. The ALBATROSSES, Diomcdea, have a very long, very 

 strong, hard, trenchant and compressed beak, which is straight 

 at the base, and suddenly curved towards the end ; the nostrils 

 are tubular, and placed in a furrow; the feet are short and pal- 

 mate, and have but three'toes; the nails are short and dull. 



14. The Albatrosses are the largest of all oceanic birds; their 

 heavy, massive form seerns to bear very little relation to their 

 rapid and long continued flight, which has caused them to be 

 called by mariners Cape Sheep, or Man-of-war-birds. The 

 species best known, is white with black wings. Of all birds, 

 this one is seen at the greatest distance from land ; it generally 

 inhabits extra-tropical latitudes, and it is chiefly in those seas 

 which wash the three great southern capes, that it is most com- 

 monly seen. It was for a long time believed that it belonged 

 exclusively to the southern hemisphere, and was never seen in 

 the north. 



15. The genus of GULLS, Larus, (Plate 6. fig. 5.) have a 

 moderate entire beak, which is naked at the base ; the upper 

 mandible is curved at the point, and the inferior, swelled and 

 angular beneath ; the nostrils are median and longitudinal ; the 

 tarsi are pretty long, and naked above the knee : the thumb 

 which is articulated high up, is sometimes without a nail ; the 

 tail is rectilinear, and the wings are long. The name of Goelands, 

 or Gulls properly so called, is given to large species, the size of 

 which exceeds that of a duck, while the smaller species are called 

 Mouettes. 



16. Mouettes inhabit the sea shore of all parts of the globe. 

 They are clamorous and voracious ; they feed on fishes and 

 small animals, as well as on carrion and dead bodies; their 

 gluttony is such that they may be easily taken by enveloping a 

 hook with feathers which, floating on the surface, in their eyes, 

 resembles a little fish. 



17. The SEA SWALLOWS, or TERNS, Sterna, derive their" 

 name from their excessively long wings and forked tail which 

 give them the appearance of common Swallows. Their beak is. 

 as long or longer than the head, almost straight, compressed, 

 trenchant, acute at the point, and both mandibles are of equal 

 length ; the nostrils are about the middle of the beak ; the feet 

 are small, naked above the knee, the tarsi are very short, and the 



13. What are the characters of the Albatross? 



14. Where are Albatrosses found? 



15. How are Gulls characterised ? What are Goelands? 



16. What are Mouettes? 



17. What are the characters of Sea-Swallows ? 



9* 



