24 BRITISH SEA SIRDS. 
‘little mantle wearer,” and refers to the dark slate- 
gray mantle. Unlike its larger ally the present 
species is very gregarious, and socially inclined at 
all seasons, mixing freely not only with its 
own kind, but with the Herring Gull and the 
smaller forms, such as the Kittiwake, and the 
Common Gull. These latter birds, however, must 
too often prefer its room to its company, for it 
repeatedly robs them of their prey, and is, Gull- 
like, ever ready to profit by the labours of its 
weaker congeners. Like the preceding species it 
is almost omnivorous in its tastes, and will as 
readily make a meal from stranded garbage on the 
shore, as from the living fish it deftly swoops 
upon as they swim near the surface. On the 
Lincolnshire coasts it visits the flight nets, in 
company with the Hooded Crows, and preys 
upon any birds that may be entangled in them. 
It is also a persistent follower of ships, attending 
the trawlers, and feeding upon the refuse fish cast 
overboard when the trawl net is emptied. It 
swims lightly enough even on a rough sea, riding 
like a cork on the wave-crests, and sleeps upon 
the water, when roaming far from land. Flocks of 
this Gull may often be seen standing upon the 
mud-flats or level sandy reaches, preening their 
plumage, and waiting, it may be, for a turn of the 
tide that may bring some particular food of which 
they are in quest. It will be remarked that these 
larger Gulls, especially, often run for a short distance 
