Frank, Tom, and Dolly had never seen the sea. Long ago Uncle George had
told them that he would take them, and at last the time came for them to
go.
It was afternoon when they reached the little sea-side village where
they were to spend a few days. The children were filled with wonder when
they saw the great, restless ocean. They watched the waves breaking into
white surf, and gathered sea-weeds and shells on the sandy beach.
By and by they all sat down to rest and to watch the gulls, for there
were many here-about.
“We have seen birds like these before, have we not?” said Uncle George.
“Yes,” said Tom, “we see them at home in the fields at spring-time. But
are these the same kind of gulls?”
“Yes, Tom, they are. There are several kinds of gulls. Here we have just
two kinds. The _common gull_ and the _tern_. You can tell the one from
the other even in the distance by their mode of flying.
“Do you see that one flying rapidly over the sea? Every now and then he
swoops down to the water and skims along, almost touching it with the
tips of his long, pointed wings. Do you know any other bird that flies
like that?”
[Illustration: Gull flying.]
“The swallow flies over the lake at home something like that,” said
Frank.
“That is so,” said Uncle George. “The tern is very like the swallow both
in shape and in his manner of flight. He differs, however, in size and
colour. He is often called the ‘sea-swallow,’ and is the smallest of the
gull family.
“Your swallows at home catch flies and other insects as they skim
through the air. The ‘sea-swallows’ live on fish. Every time they dart
down they seize and swallow a little fish. But it is done so quickly
that you cannot see it.
“The gull’s flight is quite different. Sometimes he flies so lazily that
he does not seem to move onwards at all. Then all of a sudden he darts
down into the water to seize his prey. Sometimes he flaps his great
white wings and wheels swiftly away, flying in great circles until he is
a mere speck in the distance. The gull has a very sharp eye. Watch!”
Uncle George threw a piece of bread into the sea. At once about a score
of gulls pounced upon it, screaming loudly. Uncle George waited until
they flew away. Then he threw them a piece of wood. None of the gulls
came near it.
“You see,” he went on, “they can tell a piece of bread from a piece of
wood at a great distance.”
“Then they do not live entirely on fish,” said Frank, as his uncle threw
them another piece of bread.
[Illustration: Gull feeding.]
“Oh, no, Frank, the gull is by no means dainty about his food. Nor does
he live all the year round at the sea. Great flocks of gulls fly inland
in spring and autumn. Then they live on worms, grubs, and whatever else
can be picked up in the fields.
[Illustration: SEA-GULLS AND TERN]
“We have a fine chance now, boys, of watching the gull. See, there are
some walking on the sand quite close to us, some are floating idly on
the sea, some are flying all round us. They think, no doubt, we have
lots of bread for them. Now then, boys, tell me about the common gull.”
[Illustration: Gull at rest on the water.]
“He is a large bird,” said Tom. “His body is white in colour, all but
his wings and back. These are of a pale bluish-grey.”
“Very good, Tom,” said Uncle George. “Come on, Frank.”
“He has a large, greyish-green bill. The tip of it is hooked in shape,
and yellow. His legs are greenish-grey. The three front toes of his feet
are webbed.”
“But,” said Tom, “I can see other gulls darker in colour. Their bodies
are dark brown and grey above and light brown below. What are they?”
“They are the young gulls, Tom. They have not got rid of their nest
feathers yet.”
“Where do they build their nests?” Dolly asked.
“High up on the cliffs, and on lonely rocky islands. Like the rooks,
they all nest together. The gull’s nest is a very simple thing. It is
just a hole scraped in the ground and covered with dried grass. Here
two, or perhaps three, spotted eggs are laid. The gull is very fond of
her young. She will not allow them to try to fly from the high cliff.
She carries them one by one on her back down to the sea, and there
teaches them to swim.
“Some gulls—the _black-headed gull_, for example—go far inland to nest.
These build their nests on the shores of small hill lakes. They return
to the sea with their young ones in autumn.
“Gulls are clever birds. They are bold and active. The wild ocean is
their home. Storms bring no fears for them.”
Exercises and Questions.
1. Tell the life-story of the common gull.
2. Make a list of all the sea birds you know.
3. The common gull has very large wings, curious beak and feet. Can
you explain what these are for?
[Illustration: Engine puffing on a cold day.]