128 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



tion. These vary excessively, '' differing exceedingly in colour and 

 markings: a variety, having a very beautiful zone of spots towards 

 the larger end, is more prevalent than amongst the eggs of almost 

 any other bird." An example of this variety is not presented. 



Two specimens of those of Larus argentatns ; but it is quite im- 

 possible to illustrate the species without a number of figures. They 

 resemble closely those of L. fuscus ; and " the only characteristic 

 distinction," observes Mr. Hewitson, " that I have been able to de- 

 tect, after examining a number of each, is, that the eirgs of the 

 Herring Gull are occasionally marked with larger blotches of colour 

 than those of the Blackbacked species.'' 



Next are two figures of those of the Great Blackbacked 

 Gull, which, " though often very much resembling those of 

 the Lesser Blackbacked and Herring Gulls, are generally marked 

 with much larger blotches of colour ; they are, also, for the most 

 part, considerably larger ; but I have seen several specimens that 

 were very little, if any, bigger than some large eggs of the Herring 

 Gull. * * It makes a nest of a quantity of dried grass, carelessly 

 heaped together ; and the eggs are three in number, and never (I 

 oelieve) four, as stated by Mr. Selby ; the eggs of all the species of 

 the genus Larus being confined to three — at least as far as my own 

 observation goes. * * Those of the present species are excellent to 

 eat ; when boiled, the yolk is much deeper in colour than those of 

 the common fowl, and the white transparent : they are in conse- 

 quence a most valuable acquisition to the owners of the islands upon 

 which they are deposited." 



Two specimens of the egg of the Lesser Blackbacked Gull, much 

 unlike each other. '' These birds, after they have begun to sit, 

 become very bold in defence of their eggs : while amongst them," 

 observes Mr. Hewitson, " I was amused with one, near the nest of 

 which I was sitting. It retired to a certain distance, to give it full 

 force in its attack, and then made a stoop at my head, coming within 

 two or three yards of me, and repeating the manneuvre incessantly 

 till I left it." Mr. Darling, the keeper of the light-house on the 

 island, informs me, that an old woman who was in the habit of ga- 

 thering their eggs, had her bonnet almost torn to pieces, it being 

 perforated throughout with their bills." 



Lestris cataractes ; two specimens, one paler and rather less 

 spotted than the other ; we have seen it of a pale brown, with a 

 few abrupt, large, scattered spots. Our author justly deprecates 

 the cupidity and callous selfishness of a Hull bird-stuffer, who, re- 

 gardless of the wishes of his kind entertainer in Shetland, the only 

 British locality where this noble species breeds, nearly exterminated 

 a fine colony of them, the spirited protectors of the scattered flocks 

 of the inhabitants. Their breeding place at Foula was " within a 

 few paces of the mountain top, 1400 feet high. More labour is be- 

 stowed in the formation of its nest than by any other allied species : 

 it is large, and composed of a quantity of the moss which grows in 

 such moory situations ; the eggs are two in number, the time of 



