[34 



LARIDJE. 



1HE birds comprised in this family are distinguished 

 by the great length of their wings, by their beak being 

 destitute of denticulation, but bent down at the tip 

 in some of the genera, and simply pointed in the 

 others. Again, their hinder toe is not included in 

 the same membrane which invests the others, but is 

 either free or totally wanting. 



All the species affect the high seas, and by means 

 of their long wings they fly to great distances from 

 land, many of them having been observed by ma- 

 riners at several hundred leagues therefrom. They 

 subsist usually upon fishes and mollusca, and some of 

 them upon small Alcada?, the refuse materials thrown 

 from ships, and all kinds of fat greasy matter floating 

 upon the surface of the water ; they are mostly very 

 voracious. 



DIVISION I. 



Rostrum rectutft, acututn. 



Beak straight, acute. 



