432 LARIDAL 
hung down as if broken. The bird was not at all shy, and 
swooped to the water directly I cast bread overboard. 
I continued my observations until dark, retiring to my 
cabin a little after ten o’clock. On reaching the deck next 
morning the first bird that caught my eye as we steamed up 
the Clyde to Greenock was a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 
with a hanging leg, and in similar plumage to the bird 
which left Dublin Bay the night before and accompanied 
the vessel out to sea. It was doubtless the same bird. 
Flight.—The flight is buoyant and well sustained, and 
this Gull, like its congeners, can keep on the wing for hours 
during fierce gales. 
Food.—Most of the remarks which apply to the feeding- 
habits of the Herring-Gull are also applicable to this 
voracious bird, though I cannot be certain that I have 
seen the Lesser Black-backed Gull drop moHuses from a 
height to break their shells. Harbours and city-rivers, 
even those far from the sea, are mainly visited for the 
purpose of securing the much-relished floating offal. Small 
Gulls are sometimes chased until they disgorge their food, 
which is at once seized and eaten by these larger assailants. 
Indigestible pellets of this and of other large Gulls are often 
found to contain feathers, fur (chiefly that of young rabbits), 
and bones. 
Voice.—The alarm-note is not unlike that of the Herring- 
Gull, but fuller and less piercing. When first disturbed 
the bird utters a mournful gdl-du, gdal-du, gdl-ati ; after 
much repetition this shortens into dldu, aldu, ala, ala, ala. 
The young bird squeaks 1n a highly-pitched key. 
Nest.—In its nesting-habits this bird differs somewhat 
from the Herring-Gull. For the former is almost as partial 
to inland situations, such as moors, marshes, the shores 
and islands of inland lakes, as to the coast. But, like the 
Herring-Gull, it frequently selects precipitous situations 
on sea-cliffs, though its colonies usually consist of small 
numbers. It also breeds on low, maritime islands, usually 
luxuriant in grasses and other herbage, though bare stony 
sites may be chosen. 
The nests vary considerably in size; some are mere 
depressions scantily lined with grasses, others are large and 
compact, being built of turf-mound, heather-twigs, and sea- 
plants, with a lining of fine dry grass. 
brown, the breast and throat turning white with some grey spots still 
visible ; the wings brownish-black, the head streaked with grey. 
