PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 101 



of the species comprised in the Laridae at their breeding haunts ; amongst these I 

 may mention the great and lesser black-backed gulls, the herring gulls, common 

 gull, and kittiwake. Widely differing in their habits with the great and lesser 

 black-backed gulls, we find the bustle and ceaseless activity of the smaller species 

 replaced with a sedateness and dignity consistent with their appearance. Flying 

 sedately from a crag in the neighbourhood of the nest, they employ themselves in 

 sailing leisurely through the air, often at an immense height ; at times their loud 

 hoarse cackle comes distinctly from above, and is at once answered by a continuous 

 kleeking or yelping note from their partner on the nest. Frequently we observe 

 single birds rise from the rocks, and fly in a direct line seaward for an immense dis- 

 tance and then quietly settle down upon the water. Occasionally we see pairs rest- 

 ing on the water in the vicinity of the rocks, the tail being held so high, from the 

 peculiar buoyancy of the bird, that often at a distance it is difficult to determine 

 which is the head and which the tail. When flying from the sea, the great black- 

 backed gull never hesitates passing through a flock of terns or herring-gulls, a 

 proceeding which the lesser black-back appears to be timid of, as it rises and soars 

 over them, or swerves sideways to escape them. Retired in habits as the great 

 black-backed gull appears to be, the lesser species is yet more so, as on one occasion 

 I saw a rook (Corvus frugilegus) in a ploughed field walk towards a gull of this 

 species in a manner that seemed to at once remind the intruder that he had better 

 seek his proper pelagian territory ; the decisive action of the rook was sufficient for 

 the gull, as he at once took wing, and sought his homestead amid the cliffs. With 

 the herring, common, and kittiwake gulls there is considerable similarity in their 

 habits. More sociable than the other two species, these birds unite in flocks and fly 

 to and from their nests together, fish in company, and are unanimous in the one outcry 

 when disturbed. Of the three species, the herring-gull appears to possess the most 

 acute sense of hearing, as I have seen a few birds rise from their nests and fly 

 steadily seaward ; by degrees the numbers increase, until the nests are completely 

 deserted, and then, as it were, supposing, from the absence of their larger brethren, 

 that they were more profitably engaged elsewhere, the other species fly off to join 

 the flock. During the breeding season the herring-gull possesses a habit very 

 similar to the rook diving or falling through the air, and turning over several times 

 in its descent. This is frequently performed by several birds at the one time, and is 

 accompanied by their peculiar laughing cry. The presence of raptorial birds does 

 not seem to occasion these birds the terror that we see manifested by others, as the 

 peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) will frequently glide past a flock without dis- 

 turbing them from their avocation, or the least outcry being raised against him. To 

 one not versed in their habits, the appearance of the peregrine at times would sug- 

 gest different conclusions, as this falcon chooses some commanding position along 

 the precipice as a perching place, where, for hours, he will maintain the same posi- 

 tion, with the head inclined towards the rocks, as if appearing to take an exceeding 

 interest in the movements of the gulls drifting upon the wind below him like so many 

 snow-white feathers. This habit of the peregrine is, however, the mere listlessness 

 of repose, and is generally indulged in after repletion. A single common gull or 

 kittiwake, flying along the face of the precipice, invariably stoops downwards, or 

 otherwise avoids the vicinity of its suspicious foe. Familiar as ornithologists may 

 be with the appearance of the breeding haunts of the Laridas, as observed in the full 

 glare of sunshine, there is yet another view possessing the most engrossing interest 

 the same haunts observed at night-time, when we see the gulls appear like so many 

 snow-white ribbons wound round the rocks. The gigantic masses of shade flung by 

 the rock during moonlight, and the spectral forms of the gulls wheeling upward 

 from their nests and again settling with their usual clamour. At times the cormo- 

 rants join their hoarse guttural croaking, whilst the booming of the sea appears more 

 audible and more solemn in the silence of the night. Fearing that I am occupying 

 too much of your valuable evening, I will hastily conclude with a few observations 

 respecting the probability of the masked gull (Larus capistratus) and Bonaparte's 

 gull (Larus Bonapartii) being confounded with varieties of the black-headed gull 

 (L. ridibundus). Without presuming upon a subject which is difficult to decide 

 without a large number of specimens, it is to be remembered what confusion the 

 Laridae were the subject of until the last few years, when critical examination and 

 VOL. II. * 



