170 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



HERRING GULL. Often seen here in winter, especially 

 L. argentatus. in tempestuous weather, but the imma- 



ture birds of this and the next species 

 are so much alike that they cannot be distinguished in 

 the air. The Herring Gull, however, may be known by 

 its flesh-coloured feet. When visiting inland places these 

 Gulls will follow the plough to pick up worms from 

 the freshly turned earth. 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Large flocks of 



L . fuscus. Gulls, probably of this species, are often 



seen flying across the country in autumn 



and spring. About forty were counted on Sept. i2th, 



1898, and seen by several people about Shrewsbury and 



Church Stretton ; one shot on the same day out of a 



flock at Marton proved to be a young bird of this species. 



Several others have been recorded from time to time in 



various parts of the County. The feet are yellow. 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. The largest of our 

 L . marinus. Gulls and only a rare wanderer to Shrop- 



shire ; one was killed on the Severn 

 near Cound in Nov., 1861. It has been observed twice 

 near Knockin in 1891 and subsequently. 



Glaucous Gull. Another large species. Two young birds 



L. glaucus. have been obtained ; one at Pradoe, 



Oct. Mar. Oswestry, Nov. 1856, shot while feeding 



on a dead sheep; and another at 



Bomere Pool, December, 1863. 



KITTIWAKE. This pretty bird occurs in Shropshire almost 



Rissa tridactyla. every winter, generally single specimens, 



in an exhausted state after high winds. 



