282 BIRDS. 



In the Lesser Black -backed Gull the back is almost 



black, the head and neck white (streaked in winter), and 



the bill yellow with red tip. It breeds on our 



Black- northern coasts wherever there are cliffs and 



backed rO cks, also in Cornwall. In the north it does 



damage to the eggs of moor -breeding birds, 



and is on that account kept under. In winter it occurs 



all round these islands. Eggs, 3, 2 4 inches ; light brown, 



with blotches. 



The Great Black-backed Gull, the largest of the gulls 



that breed in these islands, is not unlike the preceding, 



though a considerably larger bird. I have 



Black- seen its eggs through glasses down near the 



backed Land's End, but they were always in places 



that did not tempt me farther. It is, like 



the last, a pest, only much worse on account of its greater 



size ; and is even known to attack lambing ewes. It does 



not breed on the east coast, but has a number of stations 



among the Scottish and Irish cliffs. Eggs, 2 (sometimes i), 



3 inches ; brownish-grey, with dark blotches. 



The Glaucous Gull, a winter visitor only, is a splendid 



bird with yellow bill and pink legs, the wings white, 



t Glaucous the back silvery grey. Its visits are chiefly 



Gul1 - to the coast of Norfolk and the east of 

 Scotland. 



The Iceland Gull is a scarce winter visitor, smaller 

 t Iceland than the last, and having proportionately 



Gull. longer wings. 



Bonaparte's Gull. A rare arctic straggler, which has 

 occurred half-a-dozen times only. 



The Little Gull is an irregular visitor from Northern 

 t Little Russia. The head, black on the breeding. 

 Gull. grounds, is almost white while the bird is 

 with us. Legs bright red. Wings dark below. 



