250 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



LESSEE BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Larus fuscus, Linnfieus. 



Although now confined, in the breedmg-season, to one 

 locaHty, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, not many years 

 ago, used to frequent several of the Lancashire mosses, 

 and Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson tells me a few pairs nested 

 regularly up to a recent date at Pilling, he having seen 

 eggs there, whilst on Cockerham Moss, Mr. T. Jackson 

 says, it used to breed in some numbers. It is, however, 

 only on the low grounds round the estuary of the Kent, 

 on the borders of Lancashire and Westmorland, that, 

 with a few Herring-Gulls, through strict protection, it 

 has been enabled to hold its own, and probably the 

 larger part, if not the whole, of the area over which it 

 is found is in the latter county. It is a well-known 

 resident, and may be seen on the coast, especially about 

 Morecambe Bay, at all times of the year, and, in storm}' 

 weather, frequently occurs inland. Mr. W. A. Durnford 

 (" Birds of Walney," 1883) says that this species and 

 the Herring-Gull feed largely on shell-fish, and in this 

 way do a considerable amount of injury to what has 

 always been an important industry in the district : he 

 also writes {ZooL, 1877) that the Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull is said to nest on some of the islands in Winder- 

 mere, but of this I have no confirmation. 



The eggs are almost invariably three in number, and 

 are laid about the end of May. 



