THE HERRING GULL 



(Larus argentatus) 



OF all the Gulls that frequent the British seas the Herring 

 Gull is perhaps the best known. There is scarcely a bay, a 

 harbour, or an estuary that is not visited more or less 

 frequently by this bold handsome bird readily distinguished 

 from all his companions by his large size and pale gray 

 mantle. The Herring Gull may be seen on many a wide 

 river near the sea flying unconcernedly about among the 

 shipping, or even in the busy docks, where it skims lightly 

 over the water and picks up any refuse that may be thrown 

 from the vessels. Its haunts, however, are by no means 

 confined to the shore. According to season, you may observe 

 this big Gull on the pastures and the fallows, following the 

 plough, or in the fields in seed-time, and the stubbles after 

 harvest. 



In many of its habits the Herring Gull is apt to remind 

 you of the Eaven. Like that sable thief, the Herring Gull 

 seldom fails to visit carrion of all kinds lying in the fields or 

 near the shore. I have watched a flock of these birds 

 assist the Hooded Crows and Eavens in pulling a drowned 

 sheep to pieces ; and they may be seen repeatedly hawking 

 along the coast, or over the mudflats, in search of any 

 garbage that has been washed ashore. There is little eat- 

 able that this bold freebooter will not try and carry off. 

 Even the flight-nets are visited by this daring Gull, and the 



