LESSER BLACK -BACKED GULL. 541 



Femat.p: in Summer. — The female is similar to the male. 



Habits, — This species, which at a distance can scarcely 

 he distinguished from the Great Black-backed Carrion Gull, 

 which it also resembles in its habits, is generally dispersed 

 along the coasts, and permanently resident. In some districts 

 it is of very rare occurrence, in others plentiful, and in the 

 northern more so than in the southel'n parts, which is pro- 

 bably owing to their being more adapted for affording secure 

 breeding-places. In May they betake themselves to unfre- 

 quented islands, headlands, and sometimes inland lakes, often 

 in considerable numbers, and there remain until their young 

 are able to fly, although they make extensive excursions 

 around in search of food. Their nests, composed of withered 

 grass, and other herbage, are placed in hollows formed in the 

 turf, or in superficial chinks of the rocks. The eggs, gene- 

 rally three, differ considerably in size, and much in colour, 

 but are usually about two inches and nine-twelfths in length, 

 an inch and ten-twelfths in breadth, their ground colour dull 

 yellowish-grey, light brown, or olivaceous, with spots and 

 patches of purplish-grey and dark brown. The young leave 

 the nest at any time if molested, but generally remain a fort- 

 night or longer. If pursued, they readily betake themselves 

 to the water, where they swim with ease, although not with 

 much speed. 



The flight of this bird is peculiarly elegant, resembling, 

 however, that of the Greater Black-backed Gull, but more 

 easy and buoyant, with the wings considerably curved. Its 

 ordinary cry is loud, mellow, and somewhat plaintive, and 

 when a number join in emitting it, which they sometimes do, 

 when assembled for repose on an unfrequented beach or 

 island, may be heard at a great distance, and is then far from 

 being impleasant. It also emits occasionally a cackling or 

 laughing cry, more mellow than that of the species above 

 named. It searches for food on the open sea, in estuaries, on 

 the beaches, and frequently on the land, sometimes flying to 

 a great distance from the coast. Small fishes, Crustacea, 

 echini, shell-fish, land-niollusca, and earth-worms, are its 

 habitual food, but it also eats of stranded fishes, and devours 



