. The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories . and tail-feathers barred withthe same. THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. +Larus marinus, Linn. PLATE CCCCL.—Male. High in the thin keen air, far above the rugged crags of the desolateshores of Labrador, proudly sails the tyrant Gull, floating along on almostmotionless wing, like an Eagle in his calm and majestic flight. On widelyextended pinions, he moves in large circles, constantly eyeing the objectsbelow. Harsh and loud are his cries, and with no pleasant feeling do theycome on the winged multitudes below. N
. The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories . and tail-feathers barred withthe same. THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. +Larus marinus, Linn. PLATE CCCCL.—Male. High in the thin keen air, far above the rugged crags of the desolateshores of Labrador, proudly sails the tyrant Gull, floating along on almostmotionless wing, like an Eagle in his calm and majestic flight. On widelyextended pinions, he moves in large circles, constantly eyeing the objectsbelow. Harsh and loud are his cries, and with no pleasant feeling do theycome on the winged multitudes below. Now onward he sweeps, passes overeach rocky bay, visits the little islands, and shoots off towards the mossyheaths, attracted perhaps by the notes of the Grouse or some other he flies over each estuary, lake, or pool, the breeding birds prepare todefend their unfledged broods, or ensure their escape from the powerful beakof their remorseless spoiler. Even the shoals of the finny tribes sink deeperinto the waters as he approaches; the young birds become silent in their N? Dream /rem .Va/iae i/-J Iithliwfyi i cW? »i ■ j Tfioim,. FhOcutf THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 173 nests or seek for safety in the clefts of the rocks; the Guillemots and Gan-nets dread to look up, and the other Gulls, unable to cope with the destroyer,give way as he advances. Far off among the rolling billows, he spies thecarcass of some monster of tbe deep, and, on steady wing, glides off towardsit. Alighting on the huge whale, he throws upwards his head, opens his bill,and, louder and fiercer than ever, sends his cries through the air. Leisurelyhe walks over the putrid mass, and now, assured that all is safe, he tears,tugs, and swallows piece after piece, until he is crammed to the throat, whenhe lays himself down surfeited and exhausted, to rest for awhile in the feeblesheen of the northern sun. Great, however, are the powers of his stomach,and ere long the half-putrid foo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, common=greatblackbackedgull, taxonomy
