S62 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



Wlien visiting a stronghold of the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull at the Fame Islands, in the breeding 

 season, I do not remember to have seen a single 

 individual at this time in the mottled plumage pecu- 

 liar to the immature bird. And I have remarked 

 the same thing with regard to the Blackheaded* and 

 Herring Gulls, f Independent!}^ of its smaller size, 

 the Lesser Blackbacked Gull may be distinguished 

 from its congener, the Great Blackbacked Gull, by 

 the colour of its legs, which (in adult birds) are 

 yellow; those of the larger species being flesh- 

 colour. 



Herring Gull, Larus argentatus. An accidental 

 visitant ; no regular migration in spring and autumn 

 taking place, as in the case of the Terns. 



The few Herring Gulls which I have seen, killed 

 on the Thames and at our reservoirs (generally in 

 autumn), were all immature birds. 



In other counties I have remarked a habit of the 

 Herring Gull, when inland, of visiting newly- 

 ploughed ground, to feed on the worms and grubs 

 which are turned up ; and there can be little doubt 

 that in this respect it is a very useful bird to the 

 farmer. 



The different cry of different Gulls, although 



* See ante, p. 255. 



f See " A Visit to the Dorsetshire Coast in the Nesting 

 Season," ' Zoologist,' ]865, p. 9677. 



