86 
COMMON GULL. 
rivers, but in the autumn, winter, and spring wander far 
inland, to feed on ploughed and pasture lands, returning, 
however, always to the coast for the night. 
It would appear that some migrate southwards, towards 
the approach of winter, from the frozen regions. 
These birds, like the others, are readily kept in confinement, 
and will live for years in a walled garden, where they are 
very useful in devouring insects. One belonging to the Rev. 
Dr. Thackeray, Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, and 
kept in the garden of the College, laid one or more eggs 
for several seasons. They are quiet in their habits, and 
associate with poultry. In the autumn, parties of them may 
be seen in clear weather high aloft in the air, wheeling 
about in circles; and this is said to be a sign of stormy 
weather. 
They are admirably expert on the wing, and fly about 
with great lightness and ease. 
They often pick up beans, wheat, and other grain sown 
in the fields, as well as worms, larvae, and insects, which they 
search for in the ploughed lands many miles inland. Their 
food is also fish, as likewise Crustacea and mollusca, and, in 
fact, anything eatable that floats on the surface. ‘For this 
kind of food they watch with a quick eye, and it is curious 
to observe how such as are near the breakers will mount upon 
the surface of the water, and run splashing towards the summit 
of the wave to catch the object of their pursuit.’ They are 
voracious birds, and one has been known to swallow an eel 
a foot long. 
The nest of this Gull, which is rather large, is only a slight 
comminglement of grass, if placed on the turf, or a larger 
assortment of this material and sea-weed, if built upon the 
rock; precipitous places are used, as well as the lower ground, 
and in one instance Sir William Jardine mentions his having 
known several nests placed on the walls of an old ruin. Both 
the sea-coasts and the shores of inland lakes and marshy 
islands are resorted to for nidification. These birds appear 
to keep aloof in their building as much as may be from 
their congeners. Large numbers breed together in many cases, 
and in others a few pairs, or even a single pair by themselves. 
The eggs, two or sometimes three in number, are of various 
shades of colour—light blue, yellowish white, pale yellow, green, 
brown, and dark olive brown, spotted and blotted irregularly 
with deeper brown, grey, and black. 
