The Great Black-backed 

 Gull 



THERE are two Black-backed Gulls found 

 breeding in the British Islands — the 

 Lesser and the Great. They are very similar 

 in appearance, but the bird under notice may 

 be readily distinguished by its greater size 

 and the fact that its legs and feet are flesh- 

 coloured, whereas those of the Lesser Black 

 are yellow. 



The Great Black Back is our largest sea- 

 gull. It measures nearly thirty inches in 

 length and has a wing expanse of close 

 upon six feet, but is far less numerous than 

 its smaller relative. It is a terrible robber, 

 and will feed upon fish, the eggs and young 

 of other birds, and almost any kind of carrion. 

 Its strength is so great that it has been 

 known to fly off with a dead lamb. 



Ledges of sea cliffs, the tops of ocean rock 

 stacks, the highest points of small islands 



M 89 



