LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 627 



up the husks in ' quids ' as Eooks do. Fish and small crabs 

 are brought up from the shore, and on two occasions these 

 birds robbed a Goose's nest which Mr. Buckley was anxious 

 to obtain. As it is more of an inland breeder than the 

 Herring Gull, it is especially injurious to the eggs and young 

 of moorland game and waterfowl, and on the coast it rivals 

 its congener in its depredations on the eggs of Guillemots 

 and other sea-birds.* 



A bird of this species, kept in confinement, is thus spoken 

 of by the owner : — " He has the full range of a large garden, 

 his escape being only prevented by having his wing cut ; but 

 he constantly prefers the neighbourhood of a large network 

 cage, the residence of a pair of silver pheasants ; not very 

 congenial companions, one would suppose, for a roamer of 

 the ocean. But such is the fondness of almost all animated 

 beings for society of some kind or other, that, when that 

 of their own species is out of reach, they will often attach 

 themselves to creatures of a very different character. Near 

 his gallinaceous friends our Gull always sleeps, seldom stray- 

 ing to any considerable distance ; though he seems to enjoy, 

 at times, using his wings to the utmost of his ability ; half 

 flying, half running, in all directions, apparently for mere 

 amusement. He is, however, very tame, and will, when 

 hungry, follow any of the family about the garden uttering a 

 peculiar cry, which always means that he is quite ready for 

 a meal. Indeed, he has a most voracious appetite, and the 

 capacity of his throat is truly astonishing ; he has repeatedly 

 swallowed quite whole, with beak, claws and feathers, various 

 small birds which had been shot and thrown to him. Mice, 

 or other small quadrupeds, appear equally to suit his taste ; 

 and, though he has no objection to butcher's meat, he seems 

 rather to prefer small animals, notvvithstanding the hair, 

 feathers, &c., which sometimes give him not a little trouble 

 to dispose of satisfactorily. The way in which he remedies 

 this difficulty suggested itself the first time a bird was given 



* Mr. Abel Chapman informs tlie EJItor that he found a Lesser Black-backed 

 (iuU floating dead in one of the looghs at Elsdon, choked by ii Wild Duck's egg 

 which had stuck in its gullet. 



