99 



very familiar when seen, and is easily captured. 

 During winter it frequents the harbour of Charles- 

 ton, but none are seen at that season near the 

 mouths of the Mississippi. 



GULL, COMMON. 



WINTER GULL. 



LAEUS CANUS, Lin. 



The Common Gull is permanently resident in 

 Britain, and common along the shores of the Con- 

 tinent, but has not been observed in America. 

 Large flocks often traverse the interior of the Con- 

 tinent in winter and spring, and during the breed- 

 ing season they are found dispersed along the 

 shores of England and Scotland, abounding most 

 in the northern parts of the latter country, and in 

 the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides. The nests, 

 which are rather bulky, contain two or three broad 

 oval eggs, two inches and a quarter in length and 

 one inch and a half in breadth, of various tints of 

 brown or greenish grey, dotted and spotted with 

 dark brown and purplish grey. The eggs, like 

 those of the other Gulls, afford delicate eating. 



H 2 



