. Bird-life; a guide to the study of our common birds . rt to inland one hundred species are known,fifty being Gulls and fifty Terns. The former are, as arule, larger, stouter birds than the latter, and, generallyspeaking, are more maritime. The commonest of the tenspecies found in the Eastern States is the Herring nests from Maine northward, and is found southwardalong our coast from October 1 to April. This is theGull we see in such numbers in our bays and harbors,flying gracefully and apparently aimlessly about, but inreality ever keeping its bright black eyes fixed on
. Bird-life; a guide to the study of our common birds . rt to inland one hundred species are known,fifty being Gulls and fifty Terns. The former are, as arule, larger, stouter birds than the latter, and, generallyspeaking, are more maritime. The commonest of the tenspecies found in the Eastern States is the Herring nests from Maine northward, and is found southwardalong our coast from October 1 to April. This is theGull we see in such numbers in our bays and harbors,flying gracefully and apparently aimlessly about, but inreality ever keeping its bright black eyes fixed on thewater in search of some floating morsel, which it deftlypicks from the surface. It frequently follows vessels,hanging over the stern day after day, and deserting itspost only to feed on scraps thrown overboard from thegalley. There are said to be reliable records of thesebirds following the same vessel from the Irish coast toNew York Harbor. Gulls do excellent service in devouring much refusethat would otherwise be cast ashore to decay; but, useful. Plate XXVI. Page 116. FLICKEE. Length, 12-00 inches. Male, crown gray, nape scarlet, back brownishand black, rump white; under surface of wings and tail yellow; sides ofthroat and breast-patch black ; belly spotted with black. Female, simi-lar, but no black on sides of throat. COMMON TERN. 87 as they are as scavengers, I feel that their place in Natureis to animate the barren wastes of the sea. How, whenat sea, the presence of a single Gull changes the wholeaspect of Nature ! The great expanse of water, whichbefore was oppressive in its dreary lifelessness, is trans-formed by the white-winged Gulls into a scene of rarebeauty. Every voyager, be he naturalist or not, admirestheir grace of form and motion. They seem born of thewaves, and as much a part of the ocean as the foamywhitecaps themselves. The beautiful Terns or Sea Swallows are even moregraceful than the Gulls. They are slenderer birds, lighterCommon Tern an(^ more active
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