Bill and feet black, the toes webbed like a Duck’s or tame Goose’s; but the wild Canada Goose is not the kind that our tame Geese came from.

A Citizen of North America, and a great traveller in spring and fall, when flocks fly high overhead in a wedge-shaped figure or in a long line, with one old Gander leading, and all crying “honk, honk, honk!”

The nest is placed on the ground, sometimes on a tree or cliff, in various parts of the United States and Canada.  The flesh is excellent for the table if the roast Goose is a young tender one, but beware of an elderly Wild Goose!

[Illustration:  Canada Goose]

The American Herring Gull

Length two feet.

Plumage pure white, with a pearly-blue mantle on the back and wings, the long feathers of the wings marked with black.

Bill yellow, with a red spot, stout and hooked at the end.  Feet flesh-colored, the front toe webbed like a Duck’s or Goose’s, but the hind toe very short indeed.

In winter the head and neck streaked with gray.  Young birds all patched with gray and black, the bill black.

A Citizen of North America, and a member of the guild of Sea Sweepers.  He nests in summer in the Northern States, and in the fall travels south.  He can sleep standing on one leg or floating on the water.  His nest is usually built on the ground, but sometimes in a tree.  He goes fishing and clamming for a living.

The Common Tern or Sea Swallow

Length thirteen to sixteen inches, according to the length of the tail, which is deeply forked with slender outside feathers, like a Barn Swallow’s.

Plumage pure white, with a black cap on the head, a pearl-blue mantle, and silver-black shades on the long wing-feathers, which look as if they had hoar frost on them.

Bill coral-red with a black tip, slender and very sharp, without any hook at the end.  Feet coral-red, very small and weak, the front toes webbed like a Gull’s.

Young ones are patched with various colors before they grow their pearly, snowy, and jet-black feathers.

A Citizen of North America, chiefly its eastern portions, who travels far north in spring and far south in fall.  He nests in large colonies on the sand or shingle of beaches, and cries very sadly when House People come to steal the eggs or kill the young ones.  He belongs to the guild of Sea Sweepers, and eats little fishes.

The Loon or Great Northern Diver

Length two and a half to three feet, with a long neck like a Goose’s, and a stout straight black bill, very sharp-pointed.

Plumage glossy black above, with a necklace of white streaks and many square white spots on the back; under parts white from the root of the neck backwards, but the sides of the breast streaky.