LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 603 



THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was first noticed as 

 a British Bird breeding at Anglesey, by Pennant, thougV 

 he had doubts whether it differed specifically from the Great 

 Black-backed Gull, notwithstanding it was so much smaller 

 in size. The names are here given on the line referring to 

 Pennant's work, to obtain uniformity in appearance. Mon- 

 tagu afterwards supplied the true distinguishing characters, 

 but included a name and synonyms which belong to two 

 other species. The Great Black-backed Gull is on our 

 south-eastern coast a much more rare species than the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and is in these same districts 

 decidedly a marsh-breeder ; while the Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull here as constantly resorts to the rocks and cliffs, 

 associating and breeding in company with the Herring 

 Gull, both being found almost always inhabiting the same 

 localities. 



Small surface-swimming fishes, upon which these birds 

 precipitate themselves from the air, and animal substances 

 floating, or brought to shore by the tide, form their most 

 usual food, but both old and young are seen occasionally 

 to go inland from the coast, to search moist pastures, 

 or recently-ploughed fields, for worms, insects, and their 

 grubs. A bird of this species, kept in confinement, is thus 

 spoken of by the owner : " He has the full range of a 

 large garden, his escape being only prevented by having 

 his wing cut ; but he constantly prefers the neighbourhood 

 of a large network cage, the residence of a pair of silver 

 pheasants ; not very congenial companions, one would sup- 

 pose, for a roamer of the ocean. But such is the fondness 

 of almost all animated beings for society of some kind or 

 other, that, when that of their own species is out of reach, 

 they will often attach themselves to creatures of a very 

 different character. Near his gallinaceous friends our Gull 

 always sleeps, seldom straying to any considerable distance ; 



