151 



COMMON GULL. 



SKA MEW. WINTER MEW. 

 PLATE CCXXV. 



Larus canus, Lrxx.r.i - 



" hybernux, GMELIX. 



" fuscu.*. KAY. 



THE iiest of this Gull, which is rather large, is only a slight com- 

 minglement of grass if placed on the turf, or a larger assortment of 

 this material and sea- weed if built upon the rock; precipitous places 

 are used as well as the lower ground, and in one instance Sir William 

 Jardine mentions his having known several nests placed on the wall 

 of an old ruin. Both the sea-coasts and the shores of inland lakes 

 and marshy islands are resorted to for nidification. 



These birds appear to keep aloof in their building as much as may 

 be from their congeners. 



The eggs, two or sometimes three in number, are of various shades 

 of colour light blue, yellowish white, pale yellow, green, brown, and 

 dark olive brown, spotted and blotted irregularly with deeper brown, 

 grey, and black. 



