97 



inhabits the same localities, and is even found 

 in company with it on various parts of our coast, 

 particularly in Wales. It has also been taken on 

 the coasts of Yorkshire and Durham. In its habits 

 and the choice of food, it is described as very 

 closely resembling the species already named. It 

 is reported to breed at Grimsey, in close proximity 

 to the two former species. The eggs, which are said 

 to resemble those of the Common Guillemot, being 

 placed lower down the rocks, are more difficult to 

 obtain. 



GULL, BLACK-HEADED. 



PEEWIT GULL. 

 LAKTJS MAEINUS, Lin. 



The Black-headed Gull, which is very numer- 

 ously dispersed along our shores, often congregates 

 in estuaries and near the mouths of rivers during 

 the cold season. They frequently make incursions 

 inland, searching the pastures and ploughed fields 

 for worms, &c., especially in stormy weather. In 

 spring they betake themselves to particular marshes 

 or lakes, on the tufts along the shores of which 

 they form their nests, which are composed of rushes 

 and sedges. The female lays two or three, some- 

 times four eggs of an olivaceous-green or light brown 

 colour, spotted and blotched with brownish black 

 and purplish grey, about two inches long and an 

 inch and a quarter in breadth. 



H 



