752 THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL 



and Wr, Dimu inentious that he has seen a pair of these birds beat off an eagle from their 

 nesting-place on Rona's Hill. This species breeds in some of the British islands, but 

 properly belongs to more northern regions. It does not associate in flocks, and it is 

 seldom that more than three or four are seen together. The eggs are two or three in 

 number, and their colour is olive-brown, mottled with a darker hue. 



The head and neck of the Skua are brown streaked with chestnut, the back and tail 

 are bro\vn, and the throat and under parts are clove-brown. In length the bird rather 

 exceeds two feet. The name of Skua is said to be derived from the cry of the bird, 

 which somewhat resembles the word " Skui." 



Several other species of Skua are included in our list of Briti.sh birds, among which is 

 the PoMAEiNE Skua {Stercorarius jwmarinus), known liy the mottled plumage of the back ; 

 and Buffon's Skua {Stercorarius cepphus), remarkable for the elongated central feathers 

 of the tail ; and one or two others. 



The common Gull is too familiar to need much description, as it is well known to all 

 who have visited the seashore, or the mouth of any of our larger rivers. It is a bold 

 bird, caring little for man, and even following a steamer so closely that the gleam of its 

 eyes can be plainly seen. It can easily be tamed, and is a rather useful bird in a garden, 

 destroying vermin of various kinds, and occasionally killing and eating any small bird 

 that may incautiously venture within reach of the strong bill. Cheese seems to be an 

 acknowledged dainty with these birds, which have often been known to contract so great 

 an affection for the place of their captivity as to return to it volimtarily, and even to 

 introduce a mate to the well-remembered hospitalities. 



Its ordinary food consists of the refuse matter flung up by the tide, as well as of 

 various marine creatures, and to obtain them the Gulls may be seen covering the shores 

 with their white plumage as soon as the tide retires. A very favourite resort of the Gull 

 is the upper part of some sands, such as the Goodwins, which are submerged during high 

 water, and only uncovered as the water recedes. The bird will, however, make considerable 

 incursions inland, and may be seen very amicably following the plough for the purpose of 

 picking up the worms and grubs that are thrown to the surface by the share. 



The head and neck of the Gull are pure white, the upper surface grey, variegated with 

 the white edges and tips of the secondaries and tertials. The primaries are black on the 

 outer web, and the two first quills are black at theu' tips. The taU-coverts, tail, and 

 whole under surface are pure wliite, and the legs and feet are ashen green. The total 

 length of an adult male is about eighteen inches ; the female is rather smaller. 



The Great Black-baoked Gull is a very fine bird, not very plentiful on our coasts, 

 but spread over the greater part of the British shores. 



This bird prefers low-lying and marshy lands, and is found on the flat shores of Kent 

 and Essex at the mouth of the Thames, where it is popularly known ixnder the name of 

 the Cob. It is very plentiful on the shores of Sweden and Norway, and on some of the 

 islands of Shetlancl and Orkney it breeds in abundance, the eggs being highly valued on 

 account of their rich flavour and their large size. It is the custom in those localities to 

 lay in a stock of these eggs, and to take two sets in succession, leaving the third for the 

 bird to hatch. Mr. Hewitson mentions that upon an island of barely half an acre in 

 extent, sixty dozen eggs were secured. 



The food of the Great Black-backed Gull consists mostly of fish, but it has a very 

 accommodating appetite, and will eat almost any kind of garbage, besides destroying 

 young birds. It has even been known to kill weakly lambs. It is a fierce bird, and 

 when wounded will tight vigorously for its liberty. The nest of this species is of grass, 

 and generally contains three eggs of greenish dun flecked with grey and brown. In the 

 summer plumage the head and neck of the Great Black-backed Gull are white, the upper 

 surface of the body is dark leaden grey, with some white upon the quill-feathers of the 

 wings. The whole of the mider surface is pure white, and the legs and feet are pinkish. 

 The length of this bird is about thirty inches. In the winter-plumage the bird is streaked 

 with grey. 



