The Great Black-backed Gull 199 



THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 

 (LARUS MARINUS). 



GENERIC features: Wings extending but little 

 beyond the tail ; legs pale flesh-colour ; length, 

 thirty inches ; breadth about five feet nine inches. 

 In most other respects resembling the Lesser Black-back 

 Gull. Eggs stone-buff, blotched, and spotted with dusky 

 brown. 



Of the two Black-backed Gulls, the Greater, or 

 " Cobb," is by far the less frequent on our coasts, and 

 when seen generally occurs in pairs. It remains with us 

 all the year, but is most frequent in the south during 

 winter. 



In spring, Great Black-back Gulls for the most part 

 withdraw to cliffs and rocky islands far north, as, for 

 instance, the Orkneys and Hebrides, where they are 

 numerous, a few only nesting southwards. Unlike most 

 other gulls, birds of this species are unsociable even in 

 the breeding season. They build their nests on the most 

 inaccessible parts of the rocks, and reserve the situation 

 entirely to themselves, not even permitting birds of their 

 own species or any other intruders to settle there. They 

 are exceedingly wary, and give notice of the approach 

 of danger to other animals. Consequently they are held 

 in dislike by the gunner, whether in pursuit of sea birds 

 or seals. 



Like the rest of the gulls, they are omnivorous, but are 

 more than any others, addicted to carrion, in quest of 

 which they often wander inland ; hence, they are some- 

 times called Carrion Gulls. " If a floating prize presents 

 itself," says Mr. St. John, " such as the remains of a 

 large fish, or dead bird, it is soon discovered by one of 

 the large gulls, who is not, however, allowed to enjoy his 

 prize alone, for every one of his fellows within sight joins 

 in tearing it to pieces. When I have winged a duck, and 

 it has escaped and gone out to sea, I have frequently seen 

 it attacked, and devoured almost alive by these birds." 



