336 THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Grey Plover, the Knot, the Purple Sandpiper, &c., were 

 pretty common in our " Skjlrgard " and elsewhere on the 

 western coast of Sweden, when on the way to or from 

 their breeding-grounds in the far North. 



In the Gothenburg and other of the Scandinavian 

 " Skargardar," many of the Inrds enumerated fall to the 

 gun, or are otherwise killed, more particularly during 

 spring and autumn. But before speaking of the 

 manner of their capture, it may be desirable for me to 

 say a few words respecting two or three of the Gulls 

 and Terns, which, subsequent to the publication of my 

 last work, " Scandinavian Adventures," came much under 

 my personal observation ; as also in regard to the 

 habits of some other birds, that with us were special 

 objects of pursuit. 



The Great Black -backed Gull {Hofs-Trut, Sw. ; 

 Svartbali, Norw. ; Larus mariiius, Linn.) was pretty com- 

 mon in ovir " Skiirgfird," as also in the Wenern, where 

 many breed on tlie numerous rocky islets with which that 

 magnificent lake is studded. The female lays from two 

 to three eggs, nearly as large as those of a goose, of a 

 grey-green, or olive-green colour, marked with brown-grey 

 or ash-grey spots. This bird nests early, often in single 

 pairs, but at times in small colonies ; and during incuba- 

 tion, which lasts four weeks, male and female are said to 

 sit alternately on the eggs. The young are grey for the 

 first year, after which they change their plumage in a 

 slight degree ; but it is not until the second year that 

 they assume the dress of the parents. Such, at least, I 

 have observed to be the case with birds in confinement. 



Tlie Great Black-backed Gull, which, by the fishermen 

 on the western coast of Sweden goes by the name of 

 Frost en, or the parson, possibly from its lugubrious cry, 

 and from its plumage somewhat resembling the attire of 

 a clergyman when in full canonicals, would seem to be a 



