THE SEA-FLIERS. 203 



remnants cast up by the waves quite as often as they are employed in pursuing other birds. About 

 the middle of May the Parasite Gulls make their appearance on dry land for the purpose of rearing 

 their progeny. The places selected for the nests are generally low-lying moors and high rocks ; 

 according to our own experience, they always avoid extensive moors. Fifty or a hundred of their 

 nssts may be sometimes counted in these settlements ; each pair, however, seems to claim the vicinity 

 of their nest as their own ground, from which they drive away intruders even of their own species. 

 The nests are situated upon the top of small hillocks of earth, and consist of simple but carefully 

 formed excavations. Their eggs, which are seldom laid before the middle of June, are smooth and 

 somewhat polished ; their colour is a dingy olive, or brownish green, speckled, streaked, and dotted with 

 dark grey, dark olive, or reddish brown. Naumann is of opinion that the Parasite Gulls only lay two 

 eggs ; we, however, have repeatedly found three in the same nest. The two sexes brood by turns, and 

 tenderly watch over their young. Should a man approach the nest, they at once hasten to meet the 

 intruder ; they fly round in circles, throw themselves on the ground before him to distract his notice, 

 always, of course, managing to get out of the way should he try to catch them. They show themselves 

 on these occasions quite experts in dissimulation, hop and flutter on the grass as if they were wounded 

 — in short, do everything in their power to tempt their enemy from the locality. The early life of the 

 young birds differs in no important particular from that of their congeners already described. 



ROSS'S ROSY GULL. 

 Ross's Rosy Gull (Rhodostethia rosea or Rossii), the most beautiful Gull with which we are 

 acquainted, is a resident in America, where it inhabits the far north. Upon some occasions, however, 

 it has been known to visit Europe, and consequently deserves notice, although we are ignorant of any 

 important particulars in which it differs from others of its race. This species is distinguishable by 

 its wedge-shaped tail, the two middle feathers of which project nearly an inch beyond the rest ; from 

 this circumstance it is regarded as the representative of a distinct section of the family. Its beak is 

 feeble, and the angular enlargement of the front of the under jaw, so characteristic of the Gulls, scarcely 

 perceptible. The tarsus is moderately strong, and the four-toed foot of a medium length. The 

 coloration of the feathers is more delicate and beautiful than that of any other of the race ; the mantle 

 is pearly or silvery grey ; the under neck, breast, and belly are pale rose-red ; the middle of the neck 

 is adorned with a narrow black band, somewhat resembling a necklace of jet. The exterior web of 

 the first quill is black, that of all the others white. The eyelids and throat are reddish yellow, the 

 beak black, the foot scarlet. The length of this bird is fourteen inches; the length of the wing ten 

 inches and a half; and of the tail five inches and a half. The Rosy Gull is included among 

 British birds, a specimen having been killed upon a ploughed field in Yorkshire in 1S47. Yarrell 

 tells us that its flight resembles that of its congeners, and that it did not appear at all shy. 



The PETRELS, or STORM-BIRDS {Procellaridd), are distinguishable among all other sea-birds, 

 and, indeed, among all birds whatever, by the circumstance that their nostrils are represented by horny 

 tubes, situated upon the upper beak. 



The ALBATROSSES (Diomedeoz), although by no means the noblest among this extensive group, 

 seem to claim the precedence on account of their prodigious size and imposing aspect. These birds are 

 recognisable by their great stature, powerful build, short thick neck, large head, and long beak, tire 

 latter being strong, compressed at the sides, and terminating in a formidably hooked tip. For some 

 distance from its commencement the culmen is slightly bowed inwards, and the cutting edges are 

 exceedingly sharp. The nostrils terminate in short horny tubes, that lie side by side upon the upper 



