  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 “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?” Gull flying. “The swallow flies over the lake at home something like that,” said Frank. “That is so,” said Uncle George. “The “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 “Then they do not live entirely on fish,” said Frank, as his uncle threw them another piece of bread. 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. 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.” 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 “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 Exercises and Questions.
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