LARID.^. 



655 



THE COMMON OULL. 



Larus cancjs, Linnaeus. 



The trivial name of this species has led to many errors as regards 

 England and Wales, for although the bird is certainly 'common' 

 on the coasts from autumn to spring, and is frequently seen 

 inland, yet in April the adults pass northwards, and I am not aware 

 of a single breeding-place south of the Border ; as, however, it nests 

 on the Scottish side of the Solway, an exception may, perhaps, have 

 to be made in time to come as regards England in that particular 

 district. Northward the ' Blue Maa,' as it is appropriately called, is 

 found breeding in abundance on the coasts of Scotland, as well as 

 the fresh-water lochs on its moors including the Hebrides, Orkneys 

 and Shetlands ; though comparatively rare in summer along those 

 portions of the east coast which are precipitous, and therefore un- 

 suitable. In Ireland the 'common' OuU of the peasantry is 

 generally L. ridihuiidiis, but there is evidence that /,. canus has 

 nested on some inland lakes in Donegal, while Mr. R. Warren 

 found a small colony on Lough Talt, co. Sligo, in the summer of 

 1855, and in 1882 he discovered another on a lough in co. Mayo : 

 in winter the bird is plentiful by the sea. 



The Common Gull is only a spring visitor to the Fceroes, and 



