GULL. NATA TORES. LARUS. 505 



Black-backed Gull. LATHAM, in his Index Ornithologicus, 

 has unfortunately added to this confusion, by adopting the 

 Herring Gull of the British Zoology as a synonym of L. 

 fuscus, and describing the L. argentatus of BRUNNICH (the 

 true Herring Gull), as merely a variety of the Greater Black- 

 backed Gull (Larus marinus). This misapplication of terms 

 has been rectified by TEMMIKCK, in the second edition of his 

 " Manuel d'Ornithologie," and by Dr FLEMING, in his His- 

 tory of British Animals, where the distinctive characters of 

 each are satisfactorily pointed out. The partial distribution 

 of the various species of Gulls, especially during the breed- 

 ing season, cannot have escaped the notice of those inte- 

 rested in ornithological pursuits ; and to this must be attri- 

 buted the comparative rarity of the present species upon the 

 Northumbrian coast, where, however, its place is amply sup- 

 plied by the Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the western 

 side of the island, particularly on the coast of Wales, and 

 along the Bristol Channel, the Herring Gull is, on the con- 

 trary (as we learn from MONTAGU), the predominant species, 

 being to L. fuscus in the proportion of fifty to one. It there Nest &c< 

 breeds in immense numbers, in an island off St David's 

 Headland, placing its nest, which is composed of dried 

 grasses, among the herbage and loose stones. The eggs, 

 two or three in number, are of a deep oil-green, blotched and 

 spotted with blackish-brown. Like the other large Gulls, it 

 feeds upon fish, and other marine produce, such as star-fish, Food 

 crabs, and various crustaceae ; and is observed to trample the 

 soft sand, by moving its feet alternately on the same spot, in 

 order to bring to the surface the shrimps and worms from 

 beneath It also devours the eggs of the other sea-fowl ; and 

 upon the Fern Islands I have almost annually observed two 

 or three of these birds, apparently barren, that subsisted by 

 plundering the nests of its congeners, and the Terns, Guil- 

 lemots, &c., 011 which account the name of the Egg-Gull has 

 been there bestowed. Dr FLEMING mentions having found 

 a quantity of wheat in the stomach of a bird of this species. 



