203 

 THE COMMOX GULL, {LARUS CANVS.) 



BY JOHN DIXON, ESQ, 



Seldom a year passes over, without some solitary specimens of this bird 

 being either shot or observed about this inland district; but from all I can 

 learn, they seem to bs driven thus far from their "deep blue home," more 

 by stress of weather than any foraging errand, being often noticed during the 

 prevalence of east or north-easterly winds. When a gale is blowing from those 

 quarters, a flight from Flambro', or any other place on the Yorkshire coast, 

 would be performed in an almost incredible short space of time. At sea, 

 they are wonderfully expert on the wing, and will tack, veer about, and 

 make headway in a very heavy gale with admirable dexterity. 



It is a beautiful sight to observe the graceful movements of our sea-birds 

 at any time, but they are certainly seen to greater advantage during a storm, 

 for when the sea is surging in full fury, they seem most active and at home. 

 At such a time, grim Death is riding with them on the crested billows, and 

 many a poor weather-beaten skipper, notwithstanding all his tacks and "ready 

 abouts," is drawn to the fatal lee-shore, and there swallowed up by a roaring 

 surf, with "all ocean for his grave," 



The Common Gull is easily domesticated, and may be kept in gardens, 

 where its services will be found useful, A person residing in Leeds, brought 

 some young ones from Flambro' Head, which he has now kept some years; 

 they have the run of a large yard, are fed principally on flesh, but will eat 

 almost any sort of food; they associate with other poultry, seem very quiet 

 in disposition, and will often stand for hours, sometimes on one leg, almost 

 without stirring. 



Immense numbers breed every year about Flambro', indeed during the 

 summer months, the precipitous cliffs between Flambro', Bempton, and Speeton, 

 are literally alive with a variety of birds. You may find Hawks, Ravens, 

 Cormorants, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Razor-bills, Puffins, and varieties of Gulls 

 and smaller birds almost ad infinitum. You may often meet with young 

 Guillemots swimming and diving about, but totally unable to fly; the fishermen 

 say they get on to the old bird's back and are carried out to sea, when they 

 speedily commence business on their own account. The story does not seem 

 at all improbable, for if they attempted to leave the nest, they would inevi- 

 tably be dashed to atoms on the rocks below. Last July, I was hammering 

 about these chalk cliffs, and came suddenly upon two remarkably fine young 

 Guillemots, quite unable to fly, and seemingly resting themselves during the 

 ebb tide. They seemed terribly frightened at -my approach, and made a 

 ludicrous attempt to hide beneath a rock covered with long sea-weed; with 

 some little difficulty, both were captured, and carried, screaming most lustily, 

 to the water's edge; here I set them down, and felt glad to see them paddle 

 off to their hearts' content. Many of these young sea birds are esteemed 

 good eating, particularly the Kittiwake, which is said to resemble a Partridge, 



