GULL, the English name of Larus, a genus of natatorial birds. They are wide ly distributed along the shores of the several seas and oceans, feeding vora ciously on fish. They breed on rocky headlands, making a rude nest in which they lay from two to four eggs. Many of the species are migratory, and all are powerful of wing, which enables them to fly against a storm. They are slaugh tered by thousands to provide plumes for ladies' hats. The flesh of the gull is rank and coarse, but that of the young birds is salted for winter use on many N. coasts. The eggs are much sought after for food. Gulls: (1) The sub-family Larinx, one of three into which the fam ily Laridm is divided. It contains the genus Lestris (Slaw), in addition to the gulls proper. (2) The family Laridm It comprehends not only the gulls, but the terns, petrels, etc.
GUM, in anatomy, the soft covering of the dental arches. The gums consist
of a dense connective tissue, covered by a scaly and stratified epithelium.
GUM, a vegetable secretion, sometimes occurring in intercellular spaces, formed by the separation of the walls of cells; it is viscid, but not oily. The most typi cal kind of gum is Gum ARABIC (q. v.). In pharmacy gum is used as a demulcent to allay the irritation of the mucous membrane, also for suspending heavy powders, when they are given in a liquid. The word is sometimes used synony mously with the term gumming. Gum from the spruce tree is extensively used as a confection and as a chewing-gum. Doctor's gum is said to be furnished by Rhus metopium, a Jamaica plant, to which, as well as to some other plants, Hog gum has been attributed.