GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 2G9 



requested by fishermen to shoot them, A few may occa- 

 sionally be seen about Brighton, especially attracted by the 

 fish which are lost on the unlading of the boats ; and at 

 the great outfall of the Brighton sewage, a couple of miles 

 or so east of the town, large numbers are often seen picking 

 up the floating garbage. They are said to be much more 

 partial to inland lakes than the Herring-Gull, and, as with 

 the other larger species of Gull, birds in immature nlumage 

 are more common than adults. In confinement they will do 

 well on greaves and maize, and are fond of mice and small 

 birds, which they always swallow whole, having first dipped 

 them in water. Mr. Booth mentions that in Caithness large 

 numbers nest on the dampest part of the flats in the central 

 portions of the county, or on the rocky ledges of the north- 

 west, and on the stretch of mars'" land surrounding the 

 inland lochs and pools in the outlying islands. He also 

 states that he fully believes that this Gull does not attain 

 its mature plumage until five years old. 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Larus marinus. 



This noble Gull may be found at all seasons round our 

 coast, and frequently goes far inland, especially in rough 

 weather. On November 20th, 1854, one of these birds was 

 brought me which had been taken alive on Broadmere 

 Common, near Henfield, with its feet and bill so clogged 

 with the tenacious Wealden clay that it could not rise from 

 the ground. It was an adult, in the finest winter plumage ; 

 it seemed perfectly unconcerned, and would eat any flesh 



