THE ICELAND GULL, ETC. 183 



pearance to the common gull, but larger in size, and 

 with a larger bill. 



The Iceland gull (L. Islandicus) is found in summer 

 in great flocks in Iceland, and also in Greenland. It 

 visits the coast of Finmark and Nordland in wi ter. 

 Many birds of this species pass the winter in East Fin- 

 mark, and may be observed on the Var anger-fjord 

 there. It is called here the Islandsk-maage, or Ice- 

 land gull. It feeds on live and dead fish, and is by 

 no means particular as to what it gets. It frequently 

 follows in the wake of ships to pounce on the offal that 

 may be thrown overboard. It breeds in Greenland 

 and Iceland, and keeps company with the glaucous gull 

 (L. glaucus). 



The herring gull (L. argentatus). Common on all 

 the Norwegian coasts, in the north, as well as in the 

 south. It is said to be so common on the island of 

 Sylt, off the coast of Schleswig, that from thirty to 

 forty thousand eggs of this species, which are greatly 

 esteemed for their flavour, are annually sold. It is 

 called in Norway the store graa maage, or great gray 

 gull. The nest is made on the bare rock, and contains 

 three eggs, larger in size than those of other gulls, and 

 of a greenish-blue colour, marked with brown and ash- 

 gray spots. It does not migrate from this country. 



The great black-backed gull (L. marinus). Found 

 in the south of Norway, whence it does not migrate. 

 It occasionally visits the far north, and has been shot 

 near Tromso, the capital of Finmark. It feeds on 

 fishes, young sea-birds, mussels, and small crabs. The 

 nest is made on the marshes by the sea, and contains 

 three or four greenish -yellow eggs, marked with large 

 and small brown-black spots. The eggs are much es- 



