LARID^E. 247 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, Larus marinus. 

 Provincial, Parson Gull. So called from a sup- 

 posed resemblance in the arrangement of its black 

 and white plumage to the hood and surplice of a 

 clergyman. Adult birds are not numerous, and 

 are generally observed alone. 



GLAUCOUS GULL, Larus glaucus. An immature 

 example of this scarce gull was captured by a boy, 

 from off the chain-pier at Brighton, with an in- 

 strument called a " click," to the use of which a 

 certain portion of the juvenile population of that 

 town are much addicted. It consists of a cork 

 rudely fashioned after the likeness of a fish, over 

 which is stretched the skin of a mackerel. From 

 this two hooks project, which, however, are ren- 

 dered the most attractive portion of the bait by 

 being covered with tempting morsels of liver. A 

 long line is then attached to it, when it is thrown 

 into the sea and suffered to float away with the 

 tide to a considerable distance. Many gulls of 

 different species are thus taken every year. 



The glaucous gull is as large as the great black- 

 backed gull. When adult it is nearly white, but 

 young birds may be distinguished from those 

 of the latter species by the shafts of the wing- 

 feathers being always of a light colour. 



COMMON SKUA, Lestris catarractes. A rare 

 wanderer from the North. Has occurred on dif- 



