LARID^. 



671 



THE COMMON GULL. 



Larus canus, LinncGus. 



The trivial name of this species has led to many errors as regards 

 England and Wales, though the bird is certainly " common " on the 

 coasts from autumn to spring, and is frequently seen inland. In April, 

 however, the adults pass northwards, and I am not yet aware of a 

 single breeding-place south of the Border ; but as this Gull nests on 

 the Scottish side of the Solway, an exception may, perhaps, have to 

 be made in time to come as regards England in that neighbourhood. 

 Northward the " Blue Maa," as it is appropriately called from its 

 colour, is found breeding in abundance on the coasts as well as the 

 fresh-water moorland lochs of Scotland, including the Hebrides, 

 Orkneys and Shetlands ; but it is comparatively rare in summer 

 along those portions of the east coast which are precipitous, and 

 unsuited to its habits. In Ireland the '' common " Gull of the 

 peasantry is generally L. ridibimdus, but since Mr. R. Warren 

 found a small colony on Lough Talt, co. Sligo, in the summer of 

 1855, other breeding-places have been discovered in cos. Mayo, 

 Donegal and Kerry ; while in winter the bird is plentiful by the sea. 



The Common Gull is only a spring visitor to the Fteroes, and of 

 rare occurrence in Iceland ; but it is numerous in Scandinavia up 



