392 Birds. 
grass ; and, as it is reported, places it among the rushes, 
in order that it may rise and fall with the water. Their 
eggs are of the size of those of a pigeon, six or seven in 
number, and of a dull white colour, marked with small 
brownish spots ; but it appears that they sometimes lay 
ten or twelve eggs, for Buffon remarks that that number 
of young are seen in clusters on the pools, feeding on 
cresses, chervil, and some other weeds, as well as upon 
seeds and small insects that swarm in the water. The 
flesh of the Teal is a great delicacy in the winter season, 
and has less of the fishy flavour than any of the wild 
duck kind. It is known to breed and remain through- 
out the year in various temperate climates of the world, 
and is in the summer met with as far northward as 
Iceland. 
THE COMMON GULL. (Laruscanus.) 
The Gulls, of which there are a great many different 
kinds, are very common birds around our coasts and at 
the mouths of rivers; they have long wings, and fly 
with great rapidity and buoyancy. Their plumage is 
thick, and they float very lightly on the surface of the 
water, but do not dive. The Gulls are very voracious, 
and not only devour great quantities of fishes, shell- 
fish, and other marine animals, but even condescend to 
feed upon the dead bodies of animals which they find 
floating on the water or cast up on the shore. Some of 
the smaller kinds come inland, and catch insects on the 
wing, in the same way as the Swallows. 
The Common Gull is rather a large species, being 
more than eighteen inches in length when full grown. 
Its plumage is pearly grey above and white beneath ; 
the largest wing feathers are black, with white tips 
and white spots near the tip ; and the bill and feet are 
greenish grey. This bird breeds in the salt marshes or 
on the ledges of cliffs. The female lays two or three 
eggs, which are olive brown, with dark brown and black 
spots. 
It is a very pretty sight to watch from the top of a 
lofty cliff the multitudes of these birds that often haunt 
