BRITISH BIRDS. 
2II 
the rotting carcafes of dead whales, &c. which they 
find floating on the fea, among the ice, or driven 
on fliore by the winds and waves ; and many are 
faid to remain in the dreary regions of ice and 
fnow during the winter, the extreme feverity of 
which does not compel them all to quit their native 
climes. 
In the temperate and cultivated countries they 
occafionally leave the fliores, and make excurfions 
inland, tempted probably to fearch for a change of 
food, fuch as worms, flugs. See. and of thefe they 
find, for a time, an abundant fupply on the downs 
and paftures which they vifit. The jelly-like fub- 
ftance which is fometimes met with in the fields, 
and known by the name of Jlar-jhot^ is believed to 
be the remains of half-digefted worms, he. which 
they have difeharged from their over-loaded fio- 
machs. 
Dd 2 
