THE GULL FAMILY 315 



The young of the Lesser Black-back resemble in 

 general colouring those of the larger bird. From 

 their nests being repeatedly harried, some places 

 where they once resorted to for breeding purposes 

 have been deserted. As their large eggs are very 

 good to eat, there is some excuse to be made ; but 

 at one time the last clutch or laying was always left 

 for the birds to hatch out. 



There is no reason to doubt what others have 

 stated, namely, that this bird, at least, nested not 

 one hundred miles from London. In a few more 

 years such matters will become traditions of the 

 past. With those that gain their living on the 

 water large Gulls are not liked, for they do a lot of 

 mischief. It is something very different, seeing a 

 pair, or for the matter of that a couple of pairs, 

 sedately flapping over the tide, or floating like corks 

 on the water ; then they are the ornaments of the 

 fore-shores ; but when hosts gather. Great Cobs, 

 Lesser Cobs, and Herring Gulls, to wait on the 

 boats and have their full share, day after day, and 

 week after week, the matter becomes serious. The 

 fish are torn out of the nets, and the meshes cut and 

 broken by their strong sharp bills. 



It is a confused, shifting cloud of wings, black, 

 brown, and grey — threshing, waving, and flapping ; 

 there are hoarse barks and cackles mixed with the 

 querulous cries of the young birds. They are all 

 there, the whole Gull family that frequent our 

 shores, big and little. 



Gulls are not considered as fowl, strictly speaking ; 



