GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 473 



by day, and near the fire-place at night for about ten days, 

 a young gull was hatched and reared by the crew ; and 

 for many years lived quite tame in the possession of a smith 

 at Dartmouth. It swam in the river every day, and looked 

 out for the fishermen returning from sea, who used to throw 

 small fish to it. Both banks of the Thames towards the 

 mouth are inhabited by this species, and the bird from which 

 the figure here inserted was taken, given me by my friend 

 Mr. Broderip, was shot at Putney during the frost which 

 occurred early in February, 1841. It is found in Suffolk 

 and Norfolk. Mr. Selby says it is occasionally killed on the 

 coasts of Durham and Northumberland ; breeds on the Bass 

 Rock in the Frith of Forth, and a few were seen on the 

 friths of Sutherlandshire. 



Mr. Hewitson mentions, "that this species breeds in 

 abundance on a few of the islands of Orkney and Shetland. 

 The birds select with care either a place surrounded by the 

 waters of some inland lake, where no boat has ever been, 

 or one that is difficult of access by climbing. A com- 

 munication from one rock to another is formed by two 

 parallel ropes, between which a large wooden box is sus- 

 pended by holes in each side, through which the ropes pass, 

 and the box is thus readily drawn from rock to rock ; after 

 the eggs are all carried off, sheep are conveyed across to pas- 

 ture on the rich grass produced by the dung of the birds. 

 Their eggs are rich and excellent to eat ; when boiled the 

 yolk is much deeper in colour than those of the common 

 fowl, and the white transparent ; they are, in consequence, a 

 most valuable acquisition to the owners of the islands upon 

 which they are deposited. The custom is to take the whole 

 of the eggs as soon as laid, and the second set in like manner, 

 allowing the birds to sit the third time. One gentleman, 

 Mr. Scott, upon whose property they breed, and by whom 

 we were most hospitably received, told us that he had thus 



