NATATORES. LARUS. 483 
streaked and varied with blackish-grey. The young of all 
the species are long in acquiring maturity, being one or two 
years in the smaller, and in the larger extending to the end 
of the third, before the plumage is fully perfected. During 
these periods the birds of the same year generally associate 
together, and the immature are but occasionally seen mixed 
with the adults. The Gulls have a very wide geographical 
distribution (as might be expected in a typical genus), and 
species are found in every division of the globe, and under a 
great variety of climate, although the larger ones are mostly 
inhabitants of the higher latitudes. Their apparent bulk 
greatly exceeds their actual weight, from the head being 
large, the wings long, and the body clothed with an abun- 
dance of down and feathers. They are endued with great 
power of flight, but more remarkably so for the length of 
time it can be sustained with little exertion of the pinions 
than for swiftness; and in this state, by keeping the head 
opposed to the current of air, they brave the severest storms 
with impunity. When in need of repose, they alight upon 
the surface of the ocean, where they float with much buoy- 
ancy, or, retiring to the beach, stand quietly, till again im- 
pelled by hunger to resume their circling flight. They are 
birds of voracious appetite, and devour greedily all kinds of 
animal matter; the larger Gulls subsisting upon the dead 
carcasses of whales, and other fish, crustaceze, &c. ; and the 
smaller upon marine worms, insects, and any refuse of the 
ocean, or production of the waters they frequent. Some of 
the species are accustomed to fly inland, feeding upon earth- 
worms, grubs, and slugs, as exemplified in the Common 
Mew (Larus canus). They breed together in large compa- 
nies, and in various situations, according to the habits of the 
species ; some, as the Kittiwake (Larus rissa), selecting the 
small ledges of perpendicular cliffs of rocks overhanging the 
ocean ; others, as Larus fuscus and L. argentatus, choosing 
flat and exposed rocky islands ; whilst others again, as 
Larus ridibundus, &c. retire to the marshes and pools of the 
(9) 
G g ~~ 
