HERRING GULL 



Larus argentatus 



Herring Gull is a common resident round the British 

 coasts, and may be seen on most of our shores during 

 winter; in summer, however, it is mostly confined to the 

 localities which are suitable for breeding purposes. It 

 breeds on the cliffs on the south and west coasts of 

 England, as also in Wales, and has many colonies round 

 the Scotch coasts and islands, including the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands, the Hebrides and St. Kilda. In Ireland it also breeds in many 

 suitable localities. 



The Herring Gull is rather a shy bird, and will not allow itself to be 

 approached very closely, the adult being exceptionally wary. In winter it 

 frequents the harbours for the offal and refuse which is found floating there, 

 and is a very close attendant on the fishing-boats, pouncing down upon every 

 small fish or scrap of refuse thrown overboard. The large flocks of Herring 

 Gulls usually found on our low-lying coasts, and on the mud flats at the 

 mouths of our larger rivers during late autumn and winter, are principally 

 composed of young birds ; they are generally of a more wandering disposition 

 than the adults. A flock of these birds may often be seen at a great height 

 in the air, soaring round and round like vultures, in an ever-ascending spiral, 

 till they look like tiny black specks. 



The Herring Gull is almost omnivorous ; its food is chiefly composed of 

 small fish, molluscs, crabs, and all sorts of marine animals, but it will 

 greedily devour carrion and garbage of all sorts, and is a determined robber 

 of eggs. It is a very quarrelsome bird when feeding, and often robs its 

 smaller relations of some choice morsel. I have frequently seen a Herring 

 Gull attack some unfortunate Black-headed or Common Gull, swooping down 

 on it like a Skua, and depriving it of some small fish which it had just 

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