429 LARIDA 
though in certain districts in our Isles considerable numbers 
remain to breed. 
Immature birds, with bluish-grey backs, brown dappled 
wings and banded tails, may be seen scattered over the 
sandy coasts throughout the summer months: from July 
onward this Gull becomes much more abundant as the 
migrants with their families return to the coast. Though 
preferring the shelter of estuaries and harbours to the wide 
open sea, yet this species, as a rule, keeps at a fair distance 
from human habitations and crowded thoroughfares ; thus 
it is not generally seen feeding on refuse along city-quays 
and wharts, though, in great stress of weather, it will visit 
our lawns! and gardens. Here, associating with the more 
domesticated Black-headed Gull, it partly forgets its natural 
shyness, and driven by hunger becomes quite audacious, 
especially if fed regularly during frost. Like the Black- 
headed Gull, it follows the plough, sometimes in very large 
numbers,” in search of worms and grubs. Nowhere do the 
beautiful plumes of this bird stand out in such bold relief 
as against the dark upturned sods. 
Flight.—The flight of this and other Gulls is familiar. 
The bird moves leisurely through the air, its wings gently 
flapping up and down without the least apparent muscular 
effort. But when necessity arises, as when chased by its 
tormentor the Skua, it can cleave through the air and 
twist and turn with extraordinary skill. On flat, sandy 
shores laid bare at ebb-tide, multitudes may be seen in 
the distance like white flecks coursing over the fringe of 
the breakers in company with Herring-Gulls, Oyster- 
Catchers and other coast-birds. 
Food.—F ish, crabs, marine insects, and shell-fish, form 
a large portion of the diet, but stranded or floating carrion 
' Like the preceding species, at times it alights on trees. 
* On the Dingle Peninsula, not far from the Blasket Islands, where 
there is a breeding-colony, I observed, on April Ist, 1901, an immense 
flock of immature and adult birds closely following a plough and greedily 
devouring the upturned worms. The Gulls were so thickly clustered 
that occasionally they trampled on one another when rushing to secure 
food. They were so intent on satiating their appetites that they little 
heeded a large Collie-dog which was careering wildly over the field. 
>It may be said that the Gull among Sea-Birds and the Rook among 
Land-Birds, fly in a lazy and sedate manner. But at times their gyrations, 
either when sporting, or when evading the dreaded swoop of the Falcon, 
are truly surprising. 
