I'he Gulls. 



205 



The Herring Gull. 



THE 



COMMON GULL 



{Larui cnnus.) 



Other birds' eggs, but it is sometimes seen inland feeding with other Gulls on worms 



and gram. The nest is placed on the rocks or on the slope of a cliff, often- in 



company with those of L.fuscus, and the eggs are so similar to those of the latter 



species, as to be practically indistinguishable ; they measure from a little over two- 

 and-a-half to three inches in length. 



This is a miniature of the Herring Gull, with a 

 white head and a pearl\-grey back, but it is much smaller 

 than the latter species. The Common Gull nests in Scot- 

 land and Ireland, and it is found breeding in the North of 



Europe and Asia as far 



as Kamtchatka, migrating 



south in winter. In the 



islands of Northern Nor- 



wa)- I have found this 



Gull very plentiful, and 



it is a beautiful sight to 



see the islets dotted with 



these snow-white birds, 



while the clamour which 



they make when any one 



lands on their domain is 



indescribable. Their cries 



are so varied that I found The Common Gull. 



