552 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



354. — Common Gull [SturmmOwe]. 



LARIIS CANUS, Linn. 



Heligolandish : 'Buhi- = Peasant. 



Lams canus. Naumann, x. 301. 



Common Gull. Dresser, viii. 38 1. 



Moiiette a pieds hicitg. Temminck, Miinvd, ii. 771, iv. 477. 



This Gull is likewise very numerous, and generally known, on the 

 island ; but it never occurs in such large numbers as the preceding, 

 examples in perfect summer plumage, with pure white heads, being 

 extremely rare. This bird is also much shyer than any of the other 

 gulls met with here, and knows excellently well how to keep out of 

 the range of gunners in boats ; nor can it be decoyed by throwing 

 dead gulls out to it, but will avoid them, sooner than allow 

 itself to be led into danger by the decoy. 



The Common Gull is found breeding in the Hebrides, Orkneys, 

 Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, as far as the North Cape ; and 

 throughout the whole of northern Asia. 



355. — Kittiwake [Ijheizehige-Mowe]. 



LARUS TRIDACTYLUS, Latham.^ 



Heligolandish ; Miiiisk. Name without furtlier signification. 



Larus tridadyhis. Naumann, x. 322. 



Kittiwalce. Dresser, viii. 447. 



Mouette tridndiile. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 774, iv. 478. 



From the end of October till about the end of January the Kitti- 

 wake Gull is the most numei'ously represented of the genus on the 

 parts of the North Sea which surround Heligoland. In the course 

 of November and December large numbers of them are shot. The 

 most favourable conditions for their appearance in quantities, and 

 also for the shooting of them, are light west winds, with dull 

 mild weather. They are shot at distances of from fully one to 

 two miles from the island, for only solitary individuals, and 

 these exceptionally, ever approach nearer. After New Year, 

 when the days become decidedly longer and lighter, their numbers 

 diminish, the birds probably commencing about that time to return 

 to their breeding homes. 



For the purpose of shooting these birds small rowing-boats are 

 employed, each occupied by two or three men, provided with double- 

 ' Hisna tridactyla {Linn. ). 



