tell it at once by its dark brown coloration, and long, pointed 
tail. It gets its living mostly by robbing other gulls, chasing 
them till they disgorge their latest meal, which is seized in 
mid-air as it falls seaward ! 
c 
Finally, a word or two about the “ game-birds.’’ These 
are all birds easily distinguished by reason of their short, 
rounded, deeply convex wings, which, driven with incredible 
‘ 
speed, produce a “ whirring’? sound—very pleasant to the 
ears of the sportsman. The flight is never continued very 
far. The English partridge may be distinguished by the 
horse-shoe mark on the breast : the French partridge by the 
beautiful pearl-grey colour of the flanks, relieved by short 
bars of black, and chestnut-red, and red legs and beak. It 
c 
is also known, indeed, as the “‘ red-legged”’ partridge. The 
pheasant is a far larger bird, with a long, pointed tail. The 
grouse is confined to moors. His heavy build and red colora- 
tion distinguish him at once. The black-cock is a still larger 
bird ; the male with a wonderful metallic, steel-blue plumage 
and lyrate tail. His mate—the ‘“‘ grey hen’’—is chestnut- 
brown, barred with black. The capercailzie is the largest of 
all, almost rivalling a turkey. His size alone suffices to 
distinguish him. Moreover, only a very few can enjoy the 
pleasure of gazing at him, for he confines himself to the 
coniferous woods of Scotland. 
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