LARID.t'. 



663 



THE GLAUCOUS GULL. 

 Larus glaucus, O. Fabricius. 



This large white-winged Gull — equal in size to the preceding 

 species, is a visitor to our islands during the colder months of the 

 year, especially to the northern districts ; but although sometimes 

 observed in the Shetlands until June, it has never been known to 

 breed there, or even in the Freroes. In severe winters it is some- 

 times abundant in Great Britain, immature birds, of course, forming 

 the majority ; but south of Norfolk it is of irregular appearance, 

 and in the west of England it is rare, although, as it happens, the 

 subject of the illustration was shot on the Severn in the winter of 

 1840. In Ireland it is seldom met with. 



The Glaucous (ruU is common and resident in Iceland, and is 

 found during summer throughout the entire circumpolar regions of 

 the Old and the New World ; but it abandons the highest latitudes 



