256 
N AT ATORES. 
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 
he 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 other 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 
