254 
SWIMMERS. 
its insatiable hunger and delight in carnage. Though cowardly 
towards man, before whom it abandons its young, its sway 
among the feathered tribes is so fierce that even the different 
species of Lestris, themselves daring pirates, give way at its 
approach. 
In Europe the Saddle-backed Gulls breed as far south as the 
Lundy Islands in the Bristol Channel, in England. Mr. Audu- 
bon, who lately visited the dreary coast of Labrador, found 
them breeding there on rocks, laying about three eggs, large, and 
of a dirty dull brown, spotted and splashed all over with dark 
brown. The young as soon as hatched walk about among the 
rocks, patiently waiting the return of their parents, who supply 
them amply with food until they become able to fly, after 
which, as among the true rapacious birds, they are driven off 
and abandoned to their own resources. 
This species, like others, does not attain its complete plu- 
mage until the third year. The full-plumaged are dark-colored 
birds, breeding together. The eggs and young are eatable ; 
the latter, taken before they are able to fly, are pickled in large 
quantities, and used in Newfoundland for winter provision. 
The Saddle-back breeds from the Bay of Fundytohigh latitudes, 
and in winter is found along the coast from Greenland to Long 
Island. A few examples visit the Great Lakes. It is not frequently 
seen in the harbors of New England, but on the open sea-shore 
is quite common. 
