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extend beyond the tail ; shafts of the two 
exterior quill feathers black ; beak small. 
(Temminck.) 
The common Gull measures seventeen 
inches in length, and about forty-two or 
forty-three inches in extent of wing. 
This species is found on most of our 
coasts. They breed upon the ledges of 
rocks close to the sea-shore ; the nest is 
made of sea w T eeds ; the female lays two 
or three eggs, of a dull olive brown, 
blotched with dusky, about the size of 
those of the domestic fowl. When dis- 
turbed they are exceedingly clamorous, 
and not much alarmed by being repeatedly 
shot at. 
The young of the first year have a black 
crescent in front of the eyes ; all the up- 
per parts of a brownish grey ; the feathers 
of the back and wings bordered and termi- 
nated by a yellowish or reddish white; those 
of the top of the back finely edged with 
this colour ; forehead and all the under 
parts whitish, spotted and tinged with 
light grey upon the breast and sides; throat 
and middle of the belly of a pure white; 
