268 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus mari- 

 nus) nests on the small Skellig with the Gannet. 

 Like the latter, it is particular in its choice of situ- 

 ation for this purpose : though it frequents several 

 spots round the coast, it does not breed numer- 

 ously anywhere. The gormandizing power of this 

 Gull is immense. I have frequently seen them 

 swallow a full-sized scad, or horse mackerel, about 

 sixteen inches long, and I should say nearly two 

 pounds in weight. They also attack bream when 

 near the surface, and even try to swallow them. 

 A singular, quaint-looking crab comes to the top 

 of the water in large shoals, as also does the squid, 

 on both of which this bird will feed greedily. 

 They may now and then be seen, in company 

 with the Herring Gull, standing on a sea-drifted 

 log, tearing with might and main at the barnacles 

 that cover it. A wave never appears to catch them 

 unawares when so occupied, they are so quick- 

 sighted and active. When young they are of a 

 brownish colour, and do not attain their full plumage 

 till five years of age. 



THE HERRING GULL (Larus argentatus) is gene- 

 rally and numerously distributed round the coast, 

 and breeds in colonies, laying three and even four 

 eggs, the first of which is usually laid about the 3rd 

 of May. They are very correct to this date. If 

 their first batch is taken they lay as many more ; 

 if they also are robbed, yet another set, and for the 

 last time that season. The young are brown, and, 

 like the Great Black-backed, take five years to 

 attain maturity. They feed on anything they can 

 find fish, sprats, limpets, winkles, mussels, barna- 



