LARIDi^. 



679 



THE GLAUCOUS GULL. 

 Larus glaucus, O. Fabricius. 



This is a Gull with nearly white wings, and equal in size to the 

 preceding species. It is a visitor to our islands during the colder 

 months of the year, especially to the northern districts ; but although 

 sometimes observed in the Shetlands as late as June, it has never 

 been known to breed there, nor even in the Faeroes. In severe 

 winters it is sometimes abundant on the coasts of Great Britain, 

 immature birds, of course, forming the majority ; but south of 

 Norfolk it is of irregular appearance, and in Wales and the west of 

 England it is rare, although an example shot on the Severn in the 

 winter of 1840 happens to be the subject of the illustration. In 

 Ireland it is seldom met with, and then chiefly in the north and west. 



The Glaucous Gull is common and resident in Iceland, and is 

 found during summer throughout the entire circumpolar regions of 



