LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. " 683 



of Herring Gulls. On the occasion of my first visit to these 

 cliffs in 1878, whilst the coast railway was in process of con- 

 struction, two pairs of Lesser Black-backs were seen, and on 

 every visit since then one or more pairs were to be noticed, 

 generally on an inaccessible part of the rocks ; in 1892 three 

 pairs were observed, one of them undoubtedly nesting, and 

 subsequently, having first located the nest, containing three 

 eggs, I succeeded in taking a photograph which is here re- 

 produced ; both birds were present, the female was seen on 

 the nest, and the male was perched on a boulder close at 

 hand ; two other pairs of birds had nests, but they were out 

 of reach, though I was successful in photographing one of the 

 birds on a ledge. In July 1903, I saw a pair of these Gulls 

 at a nest in which the young were hatched and fully a week 

 old ; and on 6th June 1904, I saw two pairs on the nesting 

 station. At Boulby, north of Staithes, a pair of adults may 

 usually be seen in the breeding season, but as the ledges are 

 very difficult of access, I have not as yet been able to satisfy 

 myself that it breeds there. 



Inland the Lesser Black-backed Gull has occurred in the 

 centre of the county, as also in the remote dales of the North 

 and West Ridings, but not so frequently as the Herring Gull, 

 and, unlike that species, it is not often observed on the ploughed 

 lands. 



A case of interbreeding with the Herring Gull is recorded 

 in Jesse's " Scenes of Country Life," particulars of which will 

 be found under the heading of the latter species. 



The local names are : — Lesser Saddle-back, and Black- 

 back, in general use. 



