GLAUCOUS GULL. 597 



exhibiting little of the characteristic vivacity or inquisitive- 

 ness of many of its tribe, and it is roused to exertion 

 chiefly by a sense of danger, or the cravings of hunger. 

 When it flies, it extends its wings more, and its flight is 

 also more buoyant than that of the other species of Gull ; 

 and, when not in quest of food, it is of a reserved disposi- 

 tion, seldom coming within the range of a fowling-piece, 

 but soars at a respectful distance, uttering, at intervals, a 

 hoarse scream, of a sound quite peculiar to itself. It 

 exhibits none of that remarkable instinct so predominant in 

 many of the larger species of the genus, which prompts 

 them frequently, at the hazard of their own lives, to warn 

 other animals of the vicinity of the sportsman ; but when 

 once alarmed, it commonly flies off. In the month of 

 November, 1820, I observed a flock of upwards of a 

 hundred of this species in the Bay of Balta Sound, in Shet- 

 land. They remained there for two or three weeks, going 

 out to sea, in search of food, regularly, at a particular 

 period of the tide, and returning to rest for some time in 

 the Bay. During this time I had ample opportunity of 

 observing their appearance and habits, and of completely 

 confirming all the views I had previously entertained con- 

 cerning them. It is in Unst, the most northerly island of 

 the group, that I have found it most frequently, and where 

 it is chiefly known. It is there that I have observed it 

 first to arrive, and this most generally occurred when the 

 wind was favourable from the Arctic Eegions." 



Mr. Thompson says Larus glaucus is of occasional occur- 

 rence on every quarter of the coast of Ireland. The fine 

 specimen from which our illustration was taken was shot 

 by Francis Edwards, Esq., of Bristol, in the winter of 

 1840, on the Severn. Specimens have been obtained in 

 Cornwall and Devonshire. Mr. Bullock, * in his London 



