390 NATATORES. 



to Spitzbergen, these birds are found in numbers, along with 

 the fulmer petrels, reaping the harvest of the cold, but, to 

 them, not unproductive, sea. 



THE COMMON GULL (Larus canus). 



The common gull is so well known, that a description of it 

 is hardly necessary. Any one who chooses to resort to the 

 sea-coast, may see it ; and in many places of the country it 

 ranges inland, and shows itself to those who will not. 



It is less a sea bird than many of the other gulls, and fre- 

 quents the lower estuaries of rivers and their offings, rather 

 than the open shores, especially where the tide sets along the 

 shore, turns the current of the " fresh " of the river, and 

 holds suspended, or deposits upon the beaches (which are 

 always flat and sandy, or muddy, near such places), the 

 lesser animal matters that have been put in motion both by 

 the river water and the tides. There they may be seen, 

 walking along the margin of the water, and picking up the 

 small animals and remains of animal substances that are to 

 be found there, and at" other times wheeling about with wail- 

 ing cry, and capturing such substances as float ; but they are 

 not so often observed swimming. When the surface is very 

 smooth, they generally seek their food on the beach ; but 

 when it is a little agitated, especially when the fresh of the 

 river comes down red and foul, and consequently loaded with 

 food suitable to them, (for they seem always to prefer land 

 products when such can be had,) they are busy on the wing, 

 now breasting the wind, now giving themselves to it, never 

 rising very high, but twitching here and there, in no un- 

 graceful style, and mingling their shrill and wailing cry with 

 the boom of the wind, the hiss of the surf, and the hurtle of 

 the agitated pebbles. The tranquil water of the summer 

 does not appear to be quite so suitable to their habits. At 



