CHAPTER V 



GULLS 



THE plumage of surface-feeding gulls is 

 mainly white; sometimes the back is black 

 or grey, and a few gulls have a black head, but 

 the breast and abdomen are always white. 



On the other hand, the skuas — which belong 

 to the same family as gulls and terns — have a 

 mottled-brown plumage. These variations in 

 plumage conceal the various birds in the con- 

 ditions under which they procure their food. 

 That is to say, I consider the plumage of gulls 

 as aggressive rather than protective. 



When a white-breasted bird swims towards 

 a fish its body is masked by reflection until 

 it appears in the fish's " window." Opposite 

 page 100 are two photographs of the lesser black- 

 backed gull, and on the next plate the same 

 bird is shown as seen from below the surface. 

 Only a suggestion of the body of the bird 

 can be detected. It is small wonder, then, 



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