122 



COMMON GULL. 



SEA MEW. WINTER MEW, 



PLATE CCXXV. 



Lams camis, ..... LlNN^US. 

 Lams hyhernus, ..... GtMELIN. 

 Lotus fusciis, ..... Rat. 



The nest of this Gull, which is rather large, is only 

 a slight comminglement of grass, if placed on the turf, 

 or a larger assortment of this material and sea-weed, if 

 built upon the rock; precipitous places are used, as well 

 as the lower ground, and iu one instance Sir William 

 Jardine mentions his having known several nests placed 

 on the wall of an old ruin. Both the sea-coasts and 

 the shores of inland lakes and marshy islands are 

 resorted to for nidification. 



These birds appear to keep aloof in their building 

 as much as may be from their congeners. 



The eggs, two or sometimes three in number, are of 

 various shades of colour — light blue, yellowish white, 

 pale yellow, green, brown, and dark olive brown, 

 spotted and blotted irregularly with deeper brown, 

 grey, and black. 



