272 BOMBAY DUCKS 



frequently sees when out snipe-shooting, since it does 

 not confine its operations to rivers ; indeed, it is more 

 partial to marshes and tanks. The breast and lower 

 parts are black. The tail is deeply forked, hence this 

 species is easily distinguishable from the other two 

 common terns. It is a very elegant bird. 



The transition from the tern to the gull is an easy 

 one ; so slight are the anatomical differences that some 

 ornithologists look upon both groups as one family. 

 The gull, however, is more stoutly built and flies differ- 

 ently. It is not so graceful. A gull looks best when 

 riding on the water like a duck. It possesses great 

 powers of flight, but is not the equal of the tern in this 

 respect ; its wings are smaller in proportion to the size 

 of the body, hence gulls are often seen resting on the 

 water, an attitude which terns rarely adopt, although 

 their feet are webbed and admirably fitted to act as 

 propellers. 



Gulls are fond of fish, but they are inclined to be 

 lazy. In preference to fishing for themselves they will 

 follow a ship and pick up the scraps thrown overboard 

 by the cook, or will hang about near a human fisherman 

 for the sake of the fish rejected by him. Almost any 

 day, half a dozen laughing-gulls may be seen in attend- 

 ance on the fishermen of the Cooum, waiting for what 

 these latter cast away, for there apparently exist aquatic 

 creatures at which even a Cooum fisherman draws the 

 line! 



A number of crows usually keep the gulls company. 

 There is consequently a great scramble for the leavings 



