156 COMMON GULL. 



COMMON GULL. 



SEA MEW. WINTER MEW. 

 PLATE CCXXV. 



Lams canus, LINN^US. 



Larus hybernus, GMELIN. 



Larus fuscus, RAY. 



THE nest of this Gull, which is rather large, is 

 only a slight comminglement 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 he from their congeners. Large 

 numbers breed together in many cases, and in others 

 a few pairs, or even a single pair by themselves. 



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. 



