THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 259 



backed Gull only rears one brood in the year ; but as its eggs, 

 especially at the Feme Islands, are systematically taken in 

 enormous numbers for food, it does not succeed in doing so 

 until several clutches of eggs have been laid. 



As soon as the young can fly they are deserted by their 

 parents, and for the remainder of their infancy they live in 

 flocks by themselves, wandering far from their birthplace, 

 and frequenting mudflats, low-lying coasts, and the open sea. 

 The Lesser Black-backed Gull becomes a great nomad after 

 the breeding season has passed. It still continues gregarious, 

 however, and not only keeps company with its own kind, 

 but often mixes with Herring Gulls and even with Kitti- 

 wakes. The latter birds are often sorely persecuted by this 

 bold Gull, and he robs them mercilessly of the fish they so 

 patiently search for and capture. The Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull in its search for food often visits inland districts, 

 especially in winter, and it may then be seen on the fallows 

 in quest of grubs and worms, and in autumn on the stubbles 

 picking up the scattered grain. Like the Herring Gull, it is 

 almost omnivorous in its diet ; it is incessantly searching 

 along the coast or above the water for food of all kinds. It 

 catches many fish itself, it robs the smaller and more weakly 

 Gulls of more. It will make a meal on almost any garbage 

 floating on the waves or cast ashore by the tide. It eats 

 carrion like the Eaven, and visits the flight-nets to tear in 

 pieces the Waders and Ducks and Geese that may chance to 

 be cauQ'ht in them ; and I have known it make a meal on 

 its own unfortunate companions lying dead in the snares ! 

 Like the Herring Gull, it is a persistent follower of ships, and 

 attaches itself to the fleets of fishing^ smacks, waitincj for the 

 refuse of the nets on which it eagerly swoops as it is cast 

 overboard. Like all the other Gulls, it swims well and buoy- 

 antly, but never dives. There are times when this bird stays 

 far out at sea for many days together, resting when tired on 



