BRITISH BIRDS. 



I I 



tf)c 



THIS genus is distinguished by a large full eye; 

 the bill is straight, short, and rather swollen to- 

 wards the tip; the head large; legs naked above 

 the knee ; all the species are without the hind toe. 



Some of them breed upon our loftiest mountains, 

 and are sometimes seen feeding upon the sea- 

 shores; others habitually frequent the sea coasts, 

 where they congregate, in flocks. 



The sexes do not differ from each other, and 

 most of the species have a summer and winter 

 plumage. 



