THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 8 9 



it generally keeps separate in small floclcs Although I have robbed 



many Gulls nests, I have never been attacked, or even menaced by any of the 

 larger species ; other individuals, however, have experienced a different treatment." 

 Mr. Hewitson, on the other hand, relates of the present species : " After they have 

 begun to sit, they become very bold in the defence of their eggs ; whilst among them, 

 I was amused with one near the nest of which I was sitting ; it retired to a certain 

 distance to give it full force in its attack, and then made a stoop at my head, 

 coming within two or three yards of me ; this it continued to do incessantly till 

 I left it." In the spring it may often be seen following the plough, picking up 

 worms and grubs, like, and in company with, the Herring Gull ; and when the 

 farmer has sown his fields, this species may very frequently be seen helping itself 

 to the grain. 



Mr. Thompson notes that this Gxill is very fond of ascending rivers, as 

 well as visiting inland lakes. Several of these birds may be seen, in winter 

 and spring, in the river Lagan as far as the first fall above the sea, where the 

 canal commences the snowy whiteness and pure black of their plumage contrasting 

 finely with the back-ground of dark foliage of the river banks. " On one occasion," 



continues the same naturalist, " I observed an adult bird fishing high up 



the Lagan while soon afterwards two immature birds flew up the course 



of the river till they joined him. They were no doubt the bearers of some 

 particular intelligence, as immediately on their reaching the old bird, he wheeled 

 about and the three proceeded with their utmost spe,ed down the river. In like 

 manner I once observed several of the Black-headed Gulls feeding in a ploughed 

 field, half a mile from the shore of the bay, whence a single bird flew direct to 

 them ; the moment it arrived they all wheeled about, and, with their best speed, 

 made for the bay, where it was low water at the time ; they were not in any way 

 alarmed in the field ; the courier seemed to convey some special news." 



The Lesser Black-backed Gull may be distinguished from the next species 

 the Greater Black-backed Gull by its yellow feet and larger size, and the wings 

 being proportionately longer; "the principal characteristics of L. fuscus are the 

 comparatively long tarsus and the small delicate foot " (Saunders). 



VOL. VI 



