THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. 
514 
web and toes black. In younger birds the feathers of the back have black 
bands at the tips. 
Mandarin Duck—This bird of brilliant color and long, silky crest is a 
native of China. Its plumage contains nearly all the colors of the rainbow 
and could only be described accurately at great length. The beak is. shorter 
than the head, with its base turned upward and backward in an angle nearly 
to each eye. 
Herring Gull—This is a British species, measuring upwards of twenty- 
three inches in length. In its summer plumage the head is white, the mantle 
pale pearl-gray, and the beak yellow; there is a yellow ring around the eyes, 
and the legs are flesh-colored. Herring gulls are found in northern Europe, 
North America, and the islands of the Atlantic. These gulls are in the habit 
of following the shoals of the fish from which they take their name, and may 
often be seen hovering above the fry, preparatory to taking a plunge among 
them in the water. Their chief food consists, however, of various marine ani¬ 
mals thrown up by the tide; although during the spring and after rough 
weather they frequently wander far inland. 
Common Gannet—The common name of this goose-like bird is booby. It 
differs from the darter in its shorter body, shorter and thicker neck and beak. 
The common or white gannet measures about thirty-four inches in length, 
and is entirely white, with the exception of black wing primaries and buff 
head and neck. The front of the leg and foot is green, the remainder 
nearly black. It is found in great swarms in the northern part of both 
hemispheres. It feeds exclusively on fish, upon which it darts from a great 
height. The cliffs and rocks where it nests frequently contain thousands of 
these birds. 
Snake Bird—The name of darter is often applied to this bird. It differs 
from the cormorant in its much longer body, extremely long and thick 
neck, small, flat, narrow head, straight beak, with a point as sharp as a 
dagger, and its legs placed far back on the body. Its plumage is black, 
with a metallic green luster, with white streaks on the wing coverts. It 
frequents the banks of rivers, lakes and swamps in immense flocks. It feeds 
exclusively on fish, which it catches at night, spearing them with its pointed 
beak. When swimming only its head and neck are exposed, when it is easily 
mistaken for a snake, hence its name. Unlike many water birds, it builds in 
trees. The eggs, three or four in number, have light green shells with a 
chalky coating. There are four varieties of snake birds, one in Africa, one 
in India, one in South America, and the fourth in Australia. 
