LAR 
near its union with the sea, may be seen in 
immense numbers picking up tlie worms 
and small fishes* deposited by the tide. It 
will also follow the course of the plough 
over the fields, and delights in the insects 
and worms which are thrown up by it. The 
cockchafer in its larva state, is a particular 
favourite with this bird. See Aves, Plate 
IX. fig. 1. 
L. ridibtindus, the black- cap, or pewit 
gull, breeds in the fens of Lincolnshire and 
Cambridgeshire, and, after the season of 
breeding is over, returns to the coasts. In 
some, parts of Syria these birds are so fa- 
miliar as to approach on being called, and 
to catch pieces of bread in the air as th^y 
are throwm up from the hands of the wo- 
men. The old birds of this species are 
both rank and tough, but the young are 
eaten by many persons, and were for- 
merly much admired for the table, taken so 
young as to be unable to fly. Tlie parti- 
cular islets in the fenny wastes of Lincoln- 
shire, which used to be preferred by these 
birds for breeding, were every year in 
winter cleared of weeds, rushes, and other 
impediments, in preparation for their re- 
turn in large flocks to breed in the spring, 
and when the young had attained the pre- 
cise growth, several men were employed 
with long staves to hnrry them into nets 
spread for their reception. This process 
constituted a favonrite diversion, and the 
rich and fashionable assembled to be spec- 
tators of it from a considerable distance. 
The birds were sold at the rate of five shil- 
lings per dozen, and in the details of royal 
and noble feasts, will be found to have con- 
stituted an article of high and almost indis- 
pensable importance. 
L. catarractus, or the brown gull, weighs 
about three pounds. It is more frequent 
in the cold than in tlje warmer latitudes, 
and is perhaps the most daring and fierce of 
all the species. In the Faro islands, lambs 
are stated to be often lorn to pieces by it, 
and carried to its nest. On the island of 
Fonla, however, it is said to be highly va- 
lued on account of its enmity lo the eagle, 
which it attacks, and follows with the most 
animated hostility, in this instance becoming 
the means of security to flocks. It fre- 
quently makes prey of the smaller gulls and 
of other birds, and is often observed to 
watch the movements of birds on the wa- 
ter, and as they are bearing ott their prey in 
triumph and imagined security, to poiinco 
upon tliem with amazing rapidity, obliging 
them to drop their victin\s, which in the 
LAS 
same instant are intercepted by this rapa- 
cious intruder. Even the albatross, when 
on, the wing, though so imich larger than this 
bird, is by no mean.s a match for it in 
strength and courage, and finds its etfectual 
resource only in alighting upon the water, 
which it does with all possible rapidity, 
when the skua immediately ceases to annoy 
it. During the season of incubation, the 
skua gull will attack every creature ap- 
proaching its habitation, not excepting 
the human species, several of whom have 
been assailed by it in company, with 
an energy and fury truly formidable. Its 
feathers are in high estimation, and thought 
by many equal to those of the goose. It is 
in many places killed merely for these. 
L. tridactylus, or the tarrock, breeds in 
Scotland, and is found so far north as 
Spitzbergeri. It is an attendant on the 
progress of whales and other large fishes, 
which drive the smaller inhabitants of the 
ocean into creeks and shallows, where the 
tarrocks suddenly dart on them, ensuring 
always an easy and full repast. They are 
very clamorous, swim and tly well, are often 
seen on detached pieces of ice, are used by 
the inhabitants of Greenland for food, their 
eggs being highly valued for the same pur- 
pose, while their skins are converted into 
materials for caps and earraents. For the 
black toed gall, see Aves, Plate IX. fig. 3. 
LARYNX, the thick upper part of the 
a.spera arteria, or wind-pipe. See Ana- 
tomy. 
LASERPITIUM, in botany, laserirort, 
a genus of the Pentairdria Digynia class 
and order. Natural order of Uinbellatre or 
Umbelhferae. Essential character : petals 
bent in, einarginate, spreading ; fruit ob- 
long, with eisrlit membranaceous angles. 
There are fifteen species, natives of the 
South of Europe, 
LASIOSTOMA, in botany, a genus o 
the Teti andi ia Mon 6gynia class and order. 
Natural order of Ap ocinere, Jussieu. Es- 
sential chaiacter; calyx very short, five 
petalled, with twp acute scales ; corolla 
funnel form, four-cleft ; cap.sule orbiculate, 
oue celled, two-seeded. There is only one 
species, riz. L. rouhamoii ; this is a shrub, 
seven or eight feet in height, with a greyish 
irreguiar bark, and a whitisli wood; branches 
and branchlets opposite, covered with a rus- 
set down, spreading over the neighbouring 
trees. The branchlets are knobbed, and at 
each joint have a pair of leaves, ending in a 
point ; they are of a pale green colour, on 
short petioles ; flowers in small axillaiy 
