THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. ifiS 



In May, 1878, he observed two immature birds 

 feeding on decayed cabbage, a predilection which 

 he had not observed before in any of the Gull family. 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GVhL.—Larusfusrus, Una. 



A PARTIAL resident. Mr. Rawson finds the Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull breeding at Lundy, Bai^gy 

 Point and along the coast to Lynmouth. Mr. 

 Gatcombe never discovered any breeding colony in 

 South Devon, although at times the species is very 

 numerous, particularly in the spring of the year. 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED aVLL.—Lrfrus mariam, Liun. 



A WINTER visitant, but a few pairs breed on Lundy 

 Island, as reported by Mr. Rawson and Mr. Howard 

 Saunders. Gatcombe noticed that these birds 

 chiefly frequented Plymouth Sound during January 

 and February, departing early in March when the 

 lesser species appeared in force. Rough weather, 

 however, in the channel sometimes induces them to 

 shelter in the estuaries during the earlier months of 

 winter That the Great Black-backed Gull at one 

 time nested in South Devon, is rendered certain by 

 the fact that, the Rev. R. Holdsworth sent 

 information to Mr. Yarrell that ; * ' From an Qg^ of 

 this species, taken oif the Bolt Headland by some 

 of the crew of the Vigilant.^ excise cutter, and kept 

 in a blanket by day, and near the fire place at 

 night for about ten days, a young gull was hatched 



