584 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
Lirtite Gui, Larus minutus. A few specimens 
of this pretty little Gull have been taken at Weston- 
super-Mare* and other parts of the county, but 
although not so rare as the last-mentioned species, 
it must nevertheless be looked upon, especially in 
our county, as arare straggling visitor: in the neigh- 
bouring county of Devon it occurs more frequently, 
but neither there nor in any other part of England 
can it be considered very common: The majority of 
the specimens that occur in England make their 
appearance in the autumn, and are in immature 
plumage; although some do appear at other times 
of the year, and in perfect summer plumage. But 
little seems to be known about the breeding places 
or habits of this bird. Yarrell says, on the authority 
of Prof. Nilsson, that it is a summer visitor to the 
marshes in the vicinity of the Baltic and Gottland, 
where it breeds, but he gives no account of the nest. 
The food of the Little Gull consists of small 
fish, worms and insects, amongst others the slender 
dragonfly.t It is occasionally seen seeking for food 
in company with flocks of Terns. One specimen 
I killed at Teignmouth was in company with a 
large flock of Kittiwakes, eagerly engaged with them 
in search of small sprats, which were just then 
extremely plentiful on that coast. 
* € Zoologist’ for 1863, p. 8692. 
+ Id., 1867 (Second Series), p. 916. 
