HERRING GULL. 619 



colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. On the east coast 

 suitable localities are scarce south of Flamborough in York- 

 shire ; and on the Fame Islands, off Northumberland,' its 

 numbers are very small in comparison with those of the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the coasts and islands of 

 Scotland, its breeding-stations are frequent, and colonies 

 may be found on the isolated rocks or ' stacks ' with the 

 Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. In Sutherlandshire 

 and some other districts, it not only resorts to the cliffs, 

 but also to islands in lochs and the marshy ground in 

 their vicinity, together with the Lesser Black-backed Gull ; 

 but in these comparatively inland situations it is less 

 abundant than that species. Along the lofty maritime pre- 

 cipices of Ireland the Herring Gull has numerous breeding- 

 haunts. 



The nest of this species is formed of grass, and, in rocky 

 places, it is usually placed on the upper ledges of the cliffs ; 

 but, as already stated, flat islands are sometimes selected ; 

 aud in North America this bird has been known to nest in 

 trees, in localities where its eggs had been repeatedly plun- 

 dered by fishermen when placed upon the ground. The 

 eggs, usually three in number, are of a stone-colour or light 

 olive-brown, blotched and spotted with dark umber ; average 

 measurements 2-9 by l"95in. Sometimes their ground- 

 colour exhibits a greenish tinge ; in others it is pale un- 

 spotted blue ; and in some districts varieties are obtained 

 year after year of a yellowish salmon-colour with slightly 

 darker freckles. As a rule the eggs are larger than those 

 of the Lesser Black-backed Gull ; and they are laid much 

 earlier : often by the first week in ]\Iay. 



From its partiality to fish, and its habit of following the 

 shoals of herrings, this species has acquired its trivial name 

 of Herring Gull ; and during the winter both young and old 

 may be seen along our coasts, hovering above the young fry, 

 or resting on beaches and sandy spits. In spring it may 

 be observed on ploughed land searching for worms, grubs, 

 and insects ; and at that season, and after heavy weather, it 

 often goes far inland. Its principal food is, however, obtained 



