i 
es) 
iy 
Herring-Gull.—Scotnanp : Aberdeen. 
Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls—Enananp: Devon. 
Kittiwake.—EnenLanp : Northumberland (Farne Island). Scornann: Aberdeen ; 
Dumbarton ; Elgin, and Orkney. 
Any owner, occupier, or other person taking or destroying eggs of specified Gulls in the 
above places is liable to a penalty of £1 for each egg. 
Wild Birds Protection Act, 1896—In addition to any penalty under the Act of 
1880, the Court may now order any trap, net, snare, &c., used by the offender, to be forfeited. 
All the year round.—Under this Act the extension of the period of protection beyond 
the breeding season may be granted, and orders have been made which give protection all 
the year round as follows :— 
Gulls (all species).—Chester (Hundred of Wirrall) and South Shields (C.B.) 
Gulls (except Black-backed Gulls).—Devon. 
VII. Remarks. 
The Gulls enumerated differ widely in their haunts, habits, and food ; for which reason 
each species requires separate consideration. 
Tue Brown-Heapep or Birackx-Heapep Gutt is the most widely distributed ; nesting 
in colonies, on marshes, or near lakes—as at Scoulton Mere, Brigg, in Lincolnshire, ete.—or 
on flat sandy coasts where marram grass grows; while from autumn to spring it is found 
along the sea-shore or on tidal and fresh water, as well as on arable land. This is the Gull 
now so well known on the Thames, and on the waters of St. James’ and other Parks ; taking 
food thrown to it, or from the hand, and giving pleasure to many observers owing to its 
graceful evolutions. Its flight is remarkably buoyant, and it sits very high on the water. 
To the farmer it is undoubtedly a benefactor, because it devours large numbers of grubs 
and worms. 
Tue “Common” GULL is chiefly entitled to its trivial name in winter, so far as England 
is concerned; for it is not known to nest to the south of the Border and the Solway. 
In Scotland it breeds freely on grassy islands, the sides of lochs, and on slopes by the 
sea, but seldom, if ever, in localities which can fairly be described as precipitous. It is, in 
fact, a marsh-gull, but without the black head of the preceding species. It does not go far 
from land, to which it promptly returns on the approach of coarse weather; while in 
autumn and winter it may be seen in numbers on the fallows and pastures, picking up 
grubs and worms. Its utility to the agriculturist is, therefore, undoubted. 
Tur Herrine-Guuu is emphatically a frequenter of the sea, though it, also, is to be 
found inland from autumn to spring. This is really the “Common” Gull of England, and 
is the species found nesting on most of the precipitous cliffs in the British Islands, while, 
less frequently it breeds among sand-hills or on salt-marshes. Although it eats 
insects and their larve, it is practically omnivorous, and is a terrible destroyer of the eggs 
of Guillemots and other sea-birds. It has been an important factor in the extirpation of the 
Gannet at Lundy Islands It requires no special protection, being quite able to take care 
of itself. 
