BIRD NESTING. 



95 



of which are thrown up in pellets. It eats all kinds of animal 

 substances that come in its way, and is very destructive to the eggs 

 and young, not only of the grouse, but of the various water-fowl. 

 It is one of the tamest of the Gull tribe, frequenting harbours, and 

 picking up refuse thrown overboard from the ships ; at other times 



THE LESSER GULL. 



it follows the plough, and feeds on worms and insects. The Farn 

 Islands may be regarded as the metropolis of this species. At 

 the nesting season the isles are white with the birds standing over 

 their eggs, each one, as Mr. Seebohm says, standing head to wind, 

 so that the colony looks like an army of white weathercocks. 

 Their boldness and familiarity may be inferred from the following 



