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§12 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
those of the Lesser Blackbacked Gull, and the re- 
mark I made on the eggs of the Hobby, Merlin and 
Kestrel, will apply equally well to these two Gulls; 
and perhaps occasionally a large Herring Gull’s egg 
may be passed off as that of the Great Blackbacked 
Gull. 
GREAT BLACKBACKED GuLuL, Larus marinus. There 
is always one of these splendid Gulls to be seen 
about Burnham, and I seldom go there without 
seeing him: whether it is always the same, or 
whether there are more of them about, I cannot 
say, but I have never seen more than one at a time 
there; but this seems to be rather a peculiarity of 
the species, as they do not ever appear to be very 
sociable or to congregate in flocks as the other Gulls 
do, but to keep about singly or at most in pairs. 
They are generally very wary birds and difficult to 
approach, except at their breeding places, or when 
very busily employed in feeding. My Burnham 
friend, I am glad to say, is great on this point, and 
unless one of the Rifle Volunteers happens to make 
along shot at him, I think he is very likely to live 
out the term of his natural life. 
The nearest breeding station of these Gulls now 
is Lundy Island, for although they used to breed on 
the Steep Holmes, I believe they do so no longer, 
as that little island is almost destroyed as a breeding 
station by Government fortification works and Bristol 
and Cardiff excursionists. The nest is either placed 
