.J32 LARUS MARINUS. 



against a strong breeze, it sometimes proceeds straight for- 

 ward, then shoots away in an oblique direction, now descends 

 in a long curve so as almost to touch the water, then mounts 

 on high. When it wheels about, and sweeps down the wind, 

 its progress is extremely rapid. It walks with ease, using 

 short steps, runs with considerable speed, and, like the other 

 Gulls, pats the sands or mud on the edge of the water with 

 its feet. It generally rests standing on one foot, with its 

 head drawn in ; but in a dry place it often reposes by laying 

 itself down. Its food consists of small fishes, Avhich it picks 

 from the water while flying, of larger fishes cast on the shore, 

 of Crustacea, shell-fish, echini, and marine worms. In winter 

 it frequents the hills and moors in search of carrion, and in 

 summer and autumn often preys upon the young of various 

 sea-birds, I have seen it eating the flesh of a stranded whale 

 along with the Raven, and carrion on the hills along with 

 that bird and the Eagle. Sometimes, but not often, it 

 searches the ploughed fields for worms. 



On the coasts of England there are few places in whicli it 

 considers it safe to breed ; nor are there many in the south 

 of Scotland ; but on the islets and rocks of the Hebrides, 

 Shetland, and Orkney Islands, vast numbers annually nestle, 

 although not many are often met Avith in one spot. I have, 

 however, seen a small green islet in a lake in the Island of 

 Lewis, which was almost covered with birds of this species ; 

 and in all the Outer Hebrides it frequently breeds in such 

 places. The nest, which I have often found, is made in a 

 cavity in the turf, sometimes on the bare rock, or in a hollow 

 or fissure, and is composed of grass, tufts of Statice armeria, 

 and sea weeds, with occasionally a few feathers. The eggs, 

 generally three, sometimes two, never four, are regularly 

 ovate, from two inches and ten-twelfths to three inches long, 

 two inches and one to tw^o-twelfths in breadth, rather rough, 

 pale yellowish-grey or greenish-grey, spotted, and blotched 

 with blackish-brown, umber-brown, and pale purplish-grey. 

 The young, at first covered with gi-ey down, variegated w ith 

 dusky, remain some weeks in the nest if unmolested, but, 

 should a person approach them, rim ofl'and conceal themselves 

 in crevices or among stones, or betake themselve to the water. 



