GULLS AND DIVERS 71 



to the coast in the interval would naturally 

 pronounce him uncommon. 



This is why he is called the winter-mew, and 

 one imagines that the name has been given by a 

 landsman. 



He makes no change in his coat, except to put 

 off some dark spots, which he wears in the winter, 

 from the crown of his head. He is a dumpy bird, 

 with light greenish legs, and a habit of sitting all 

 in a heap as if he had no neck. He breeds, by 

 preference, on some flat seashore ; and, occasionally, 

 resorts to an inland loch. 



The herring-gull is the largest of the grey species 

 found on our sea -coasts. In addition to his greater 

 height and freer gait, there is a wildness about his 

 cry which makes it one of the voices of the sea, 

 and a purity in his plumage which has gained him 

 the name of silver-gull. Although he visits the fields, 

 I prefer to think of him as he sits on the remoter 

 banks, beyond the danger of surprise, or rides out on 

 the bay after the shoal. He is the fisherman's gull. 



If the herring-gull is the greatest of the common 

 species, the kittiwake is the least. He is more of 

 a sea bird than any of the others, neither visiting the 

 land for food like the common gull, nor for breed- 

 ing purposes like the black-headed gull. His zone 



