102 



long and two inches and a quarter broad. In colour 

 they are of a pale yellowish or greenish grey, 

 spotted and blotched with blackish brown umber 

 and pale purplish grey. 



GULL, H-E BRING. 



SILVERY GREY GULL, WAGEL. 

 LA.RUS FTJSCUS, Lin. 



The Silvery, or Herring Gull, as it is also called, 

 is nearly as large as the last-named species, and is 

 by far the most numerous of our larger Gulls. 

 Its flight is strong, buoyant, direct, and unwavering, 

 when it is proceeding towards a distant place. 

 When engaged with a shoal of fry, it hovers over 

 the water, mounts upwards, vibrates its wings, 

 touches the water lightly with its feet, and picks 

 up its prey without alighting. During tem- 

 pestuous weather it often flies inland. It breeds 

 usually in great numbers on small unfrequented 

 islands, or on remote rocky coasts, forming a 

 bulky nest, and laying generally three eggs, 

 averaging two inches and three quarters in length, 

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

 grey or olivaceous brown, clouded or spotted with 

 dark brown or purplish grey. 



