BRITAIN S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 31 



appropriate enough name for this species, and on the 

 score of appropriateness we have no fault to find with 

 ' Herring GuU.' We confess, however, to a preference 

 for some more euphonius appellation, such as the German 

 ' Silver Mew/ * But ' Herring Gull ' it is, and must, we 

 fear, remain. 



Perhaps it is on account of its commonness that we 

 are prejudiced against it ; perhaps on account of its 

 habits, at times repulsive, as when a flock fights and 

 screams over some foul piece of cam on among the jet- 

 sam. Whatever the reason, the Herring Gull is less 

 admired than it deserves, for amid favoui'able surround- 

 ings it is a decidedly handsome bird. On the wing it 

 looks its best, for then not only its appearance, but its 

 skill demands our praise. Its feats of gliding and soaring, 

 we venture to think, excel any that can be performed by 

 other common British birds. One may study these with 

 especial facility when a number of the birds are follow- 

 ing a steamer, hanging poised on motionless wings in 

 the up-draught behind the stern. The same thing may 

 be noticed above a clift-top, the birds taking advantage 

 of the vertical currents set up. And in winter they 

 may be seen soaring in circles at a considerable 

 height above the gardens of any coastal to\v'n, riding 

 on the varying gusts, so that they go this way and 

 that, rise and fall, without more than an occasional flap 

 or two to quit some disadvantageous current or to 

 regain the course from which some crueller blast has 

 buffeted them. Then sharp eyes detect scraps of food 

 thrown out, and a Gull comes down. Probably they 

 watch, vulture-like, for each other's descent, for soon a 

 flock collects. Pulling, and flapping, and screaming, they 



* ' Silbermdwe.' But the Germans use ' Herringsmowe' for the Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull. 



