GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 593 



Devonshire. The Eev. Robert Holds worth sent me word 

 that, from an egg of this species, taken off the Bolt Head- 

 land by some of the crew of the Vigilant, excise-cutter, and 

 kept in a blanket by day, and near the fire-place at night 

 for about ten days, a young gull was hatched and reared 

 by the crew ; and for many years lived quite tame in the 

 possession of a smith at Dartmouth. It swam in the river 

 every day, and looked out for the fishermen returning from 

 sea, who used to throw small fish to it. Both banks of 

 the Thames towards the mouth are inhabited by this 

 species, and the bird from which the figure here inserted 

 was taken, given me by my friend Mr. Broderip, was 

 shot at Putney during the frost which occurred early in 

 February, 1841. It is found in Suffolk and Norfolk. 

 Mr. Selby says it is occasionally killed on the coasts of 

 Durham and Northumberland ; breeds on the Bass Rock 

 in the Frith of Forth, and a few were seen on the friths 

 of Sutherlandshire. 



Mr. Hewitson mentions, " that this species breeds in 

 abundance on a few of the islands of Orkney and Shetland. 

 The birds select with care either a place surrounded by the 

 waters of some inland lake, where no boat has ever been, 

 or one that is difficult of access by climbing. Their eggs 

 are rich and excellent to eat ; and they are, in conse- 

 quence, a most valuable acquisition to the owners of the 

 islands upon which they are deposited. The custom is 

 to take the whole of the eggs as soon as laid, and the 

 second set in like manner, allowing the birds to sit the third 

 time. One gentleman, Mr. Scott, upon whose property 

 they breed, and by whom we were most hospitably re- 

 ceived, told us that he had secured sixty dozen of their 

 eggs for winter use, although the extent of the island 

 was scarcely half an acre." 



VOL. III. Q Q 



