204 



British Birds. 



THE LESSER 



BLACK-BACKED 



GL'LL. 



{Lariii fiiscus.) 



This species has a black or i^reyish-black back, so that it resem- 

 bles the Great Black-backed Gull in this respect, but it is a much 

 smaller bird and has yellow, instead of flesh-coloured, feet. It is 

 found in summer breeding locally throughout the British Islands, 

 and at that season is also generally distributed on the coasts 

 of Northern Europe, as far east as the Dwina and as far south as the Mediterranean, 

 where it also breeds. In winter it visits West Africa, the Red Sea and the Persian 

 Gulf. I have seen considerable migrations of this species oft' the coast of Norway, 

 which it passes about the end of Ma\-, proceeding northward by day in flocks of 

 from tv.'enty to two hundred in number. The nest is like that of other Gulls, a 

 rough structure of grass and sea-weed, and the eggs are three or four in number, 

 of a darker tint than those of L. uuiiiuus : they measure about two-and-three-quarter 

 inches in length. 



The Icela.nd Gull. 



The Lesser Black-isacked Gvll. 



THE 

 HERRING-GULL. 

 {Lants argt'ntatus.) 



This beautiful Gull is nearly as large as L. iiiavinns, but is 

 recognised at once by its pearly-grey back. The bill is not 

 nearly so large as that of the Great Black-backed Gull, and the 

 dimensions will generally serve to identify the young birds in 

 their brown plumage. It breeds in Northern Europe, west of the White Sea, and 

 also in North America, and it is found nesting throughout Great Britain in places 

 suited to its habits, but it is everywhere a marine species and does not nest inland. 

 In winter it migrates south to the Mediterranean Sea and in America as far as 

 the W'est Indies. Like the other big Gulls, the present species is a great robber of 



