256 NATATORES. 



in eating. If a dead duck or even one of their own 

 species is thrown to them, they tear it in pieces, 

 drink the blood, and swallow the flesh in large mor- 

 sels, each one trying to rob the other of his share. 

 They will attempt to take down codlings ten inches 

 in length, and, though the shape of the fish may be 

 distinctly traced along the neck, and the birds are 

 evidently suffering from the pressure on the wind- 

 pipe, they will not disgorge their prey. They will 

 attack flocks of young Ducks while swimming beside 

 their mother, when the latter takes wing, and the 

 frightened brood dive. If among the bushes, they 

 are safe ; but if no shelter is near, they are likely to 

 be caught by their voracious enemy. The Eider 

 Duck is the only one that offers resistance to save 

 her young ; but when sitting on eggs in any open 

 situation, the Gull will drive her off and suck them 

 before her eyes. He will sometimes seize flounders 

 on the edge of the shallows, but not being able to 

 swallow them whole, flies to some rock, and beats 

 the fish until it can be torn to pieces. The stomach 

 of this bird appears to be capable of reducing fea- 

 thers, bones, and othel hard substances, with ease. 



The whole length is nearly thirty inches, and a 

 full-grown specimen will weigh three pounds. The 

 fishermen and settlers of Newfoundland and Labra- 

 dor kill large numbers of the young ones when nearly 

 able to fly, and, after skinning them, salt them down 

 for food. 



We turn now to a bird familiarly known to sailors, 

 the world over. Constantly flapping its wings, and 



