COMMON GULL. 317 



the ground of their arger size and slightly darker mantle; but every 

 intermediate form occurs. On the Pacific side of America the Common 

 Gull is replaced by a nearly alli-cd species, L. hrachrjrhynchus, and on the 

 Atlantic side of that continent by L. delawarensis, the former slightly 

 smaller and the latter slightly larger than the European bird, and differing 

 also in some other particulars. 



The Common Gull is intermediate in its habits between the inland and 

 marine species ; it breeds indifferently on an island off the coast or on the 

 cliffs of the mainland, and is equally satisfied with an island on an inland 

 lake or the banks of a mountain-tarn. It is equally catholic in its choice 

 of a feeding-ground. It often catches fish in the sea or picks up marine 

 insects on the shore ; it is fond of following the plough in search of worms 

 and grubs ; it catches fish in rivers, lakes, and sometimes in tarns at a 

 considerable height above sea-level ; and Naumann says that young birds 

 and mice have been found in its stomach. Its flight is easy and graceful, 

 but not very rapid. Its notes are loud and harsh and considerably varied : 

 some resemble the syllable kyah, others kak. It is more or less gregarious 

 in its habits, and is generally seen in flocks, sometimes in very large ones, 

 but occasionally it feeds singly or in pairs. The same remarks apply to 

 its breeding-colonies ; some of these are very large, others small, and in 

 many places, especially on the coast, its nests may be found scattered 

 here and there along the shore. The nest is carelessly constructed of 

 dead grass and other weeds, and is generally placed on the ground, either 

 in a rocky niche, on dry sandy earth, or in swampy grass or moss, and 

 a clump of sedge or a bunch of heath are often chosen. It is most often 

 found, especially where the colonies are large, in flat open country; but a 

 grassy ledge on the face of a clift' or on the top of the rocks is frequently 

 selected; and in Norway Collett has known it to breed in the deserted 

 nest of a Hooded Crow near the top of a pine, not far from a lake. 

 The Common Gull occasionally perches in lofty trees, generally choosing 

 the summit or a dead branch. In the valley of the Tenesay I shot one of 

 these birds after having watched it for some time perched on a branch of a 

 larch. Naumann made the same observation in Germany, and Collett says 

 that he repeatedly saw them perch on the tops of trees in Norway. 



Newly laid eggs may be obtained during the last half of May in Scotland : 

 but north of the Arctic circle I have taken fresh eggs in the middle of 

 June both in Norway and in Siberia, Three is the usual number. They are 

 subject to very little variation. The ground-colour varies from olive-brown 

 to huffish brown. The spots are seldom larger than a pea, but occasionally 

 very irregular in shape, and sometimes elongated into streaks ; they are 

 generally most abundant on the large end, but occasionally evenly distributed 

 over the egg. The surface-spots are dark brown, sometimes aj)proaching 

 black, and the underlying spots, which are seldom very distinct^ are brownish 



