d44 LARIDA 
On April 15th, 1902, I had the good fortune to observe 
an Iceland Gull—in full adult nuptial plumage—at the 
mouth of the River Liffey, Dublin. I viewed it from the 
deck of one of the cross-channel steamers, and twice it 
almost brushed past my head. Presently it joined a flock 
of Herring-Gulls congregated round a fishing-smack, from 
which offal and other rubbish was being cast out. Amidst 
this clamorous crowd I kept the fair-plumed bird in view, 
and noticed how gracefully it wheeled and sailed on the 
wing. More beautiful still did it appear as it passed to 
and fro in front of the dark sails of a trawler, and displayed 
its pale pinions against this most excellent background. 
I noticed that it frequently swooped to the water and 
demolished bits of dead fish, &c. 
It is generally admitted that the Iceland Gull as a 
species, is less wary and suspicious of man’s approach 
than the Glaucous Gull. Thompson, in his ‘Natural History 
of Ireland,’ cites an instance of one of these birds remaining 
on the ground while being stoned by boys, and only flying 
a few yards when actually struck. 
Flight.—Attention has already been drawn to the con- 
trast exhibited by this and the Glaucous Gull on the wing 
(p. 440). The marked buoyancy and grace with which the 
Iceland Gull glides on its proportionately longer and more 
pointed pinions, are features by which it is not easily 
mistaken. 
Votice.—The voice is harsh and discordant, and the notes 
are often repeated in rapid succession. 
Food.—Here again the Iceland Gull differs somewhat in 
its habits from its larger Northern congener; the former 
may be seen consorting amicably with other Gulls in fields,! 
following the plough in search of grubs, rather than hunting 
the shore to obtain a meal off a stranded carcase. Mr. 
Warren states that he has never seen this species feeding 
on carrion or approaching a carcase lying on the shore 
(‘Irish Naturalist,’ 1892, p. 154-5), though other writers 
seem to differ on this point. I have not seen it actually 
tearing a carcase, but it seems significant that in addition 
to the bird which I observed feeding on dead fish thrown 
from a trawler (vide supra) I noticed, on another occasion, 
' IT examined the gizzard of the specimen obtained in Kingstown 
Harbour on March 4th, 1900 (p. 443), and found quantities of shreds of 
corn-stems and roots mixed up with a few shrimps and small fish-bones. 
