HERRING GULL. 589 



common species, remaining all the year, and breeding in 

 the season at most of the localities frequented by the Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull. The Herring Gull is particularly nu- 

 merous at the Isle of Wight, from Freshwater Gate, to 

 that group of isolated rocks, some of which, from their 

 conical and pointed forms, are called the Needles ; and 

 these birds are also found at many places where the cliffs 

 are high along the line of coast extending to the westward. 

 These Gulls make a nest of grass on the ledges and other 

 flat portions of the cliff near the top, where they lay three 

 eggs, which closely resemble those of the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull. They are of a light olive-brown, spotted with 

 two shades of dark brown, and measure two inches and a 

 half in length, by one inch and three-quarters in breadth. 



This Gull, from its partiality to fish, distinguished by 

 the name of Herring Gull, feeds upon surface-swimming 

 fish, mollusca, and radiata. This species is particularly 

 bold in approaching the boats and nets of the fishermen ; 

 and in Italy has acquired the name of Pescatore. 



A pair of this species bred in captivity at Quy Hall, the 

 residence of J. T. Martin, Esq.; two eggs were laid, and 

 one young bird was reared. 



The Herring Gull is common, and resident, on many of 

 the rocky parts of the coast of Ireland ; it is found along 

 the line of the coast of Wales, in Cornwall, Devonshire, 

 Dorsetshire, and Hampshire. On the eastern coast it is 

 observed in Suffolk and Norfolk ; but Mr. Selby mentions 

 that it is far less numerous on the Northumbrian coast than 

 the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Mr. J. Macgillivray says, 

 the Herring Gull is abundant on some of the islands of the 

 Outer Hebrides, never breeding in the interior like the 

 Common Gull, but always on the coast. Mr. Hewitson 

 notices the fine cliff of Sumbiirgh Head, the southern ter 

 mination of Shetland, as a place where the Herring Gull 



