392 NATATORES. 



did not come in bright and refreshing visions, as hope began 

 to sicken. 



The common gull appears to have been confounded with 

 the herring-gull in more respects than that of the breeding 

 ground ; and in a merely passing observer it is not much to 

 be wondered at. They often alternate with each other on 

 the coasts, and mingle on the confines. The birds are not 

 unlike in their plumages ; one does not take a very good 

 estimate of the size of birds on shore or over the water ; and 

 shades of difference in the colours of eyes and feet, require 

 near inspection 



The bills of the common and herring-gulls are about the 

 same length (which, by the way, as the common gull is only 

 about half the weight of the other, shows in it an approach 

 to the long-billed shore birds), but the common is dusky at 

 the base, the herring wholly yellow. The tarsi of the 

 common gull are whitish, and rather larger in proportion 

 than those of the other ; the orbits and irides are both 

 brown, not red the one and yellow the other. 



The common gull is about seventeen inches long and 

 thirty-six in the wings, and weighs about a pound. In the 

 mature bird, the back and scapulars are clear bluish grey, the 

 primary quills black, with white spots at the tips ; and the 

 secondaries grey with white tips. The young undergo most 

 of the same changes of plumage as those of the herring-gulls, 

 but at all ages they are only about half the weight. They 

 attain their adult plumage sooner. 



THE KITTY-WAKE (Larus rissa). 



This is a rock-breeder, inhabiting the tallest cliffs in vast 

 numbers in the breeding season, on various parts of the coast, 

 but most 'abundantly towards the north. In winter, as is 

 the case with the rock-breeders generally, these disperse 

 themselves over the sea, and do not come inland in storms. 



