HERRING-GULL. 327 



Straits, across which it ranges into Alaska*, passes through the Caspian 

 on migration, and winters in the Arabian Sea. Accidental stragglers on 

 migration have been obtained in Greenland, on Heligoland, in the Black 

 Sea, and in the Sea of Ochotsk. This species is very distinct from the 

 Herring-Gull, having a dark slate-grey mantle and yellow legs. It is, 

 however, connected with it by an intermediate subspecies, L. argentalus 

 cachinnans, which appears to intergrade with both the extreme _ forms. 

 In the colour of the mantle it is exactly intermediate between its two 

 allies, but its legs are yellow, like those of the Siberian bird. This 

 intermediate form is a resident in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and 

 ranges eastwards through the Caspian and Aral Seas, to Lake Baikal and 

 the valley of the Amoor. The Asiatic birds are migratory, and visit the 

 coasts of Arabia, India, China, and Japan in winter. It is said also to 

 breed in Alaska ; " but this requires confirmation." 



The Herring-Gull is a resident in the British Islands, but it is more 

 widely distributed in winter than in summer, when it is concentrated in 

 the districts that are suitable for nesting-purposes. As in almost all Gulls, 

 the young birds are the greatest wanderers, and it is of them that the 

 large flocks seen on the low-lying coasts in autumn and winter are prin- 

 cipally composed. In winter flocks of this Gull often wander inland 

 to lakes and reservoirs, or follow the course of large rivers ; it is 

 then often seen in large flocks on the wide extensive mud-flats at 

 the mouths of rivers, and is very fond of frequenting harbours. Its 

 habits do not differ very much from those of the other large Gulls. 

 Like most big birds it is rather shy, and seldom allows any one to 

 approach very closely. The Herring-Gull has received its commonest 

 trivial name from the pertinacity with which it follows the shoals of 

 herrings. The presence of this fish off the coast is unerringly proclaimed 

 by the actions of the Herring-Gull. Like a huge clumsy Hawk, it hovers 

 above the shoal, every now and then dropping to the water and capturing 

 a fish ; or, skimming along just over the surface of the waves, it stoops, 

 letting down its feet so as almost to touch the water, and picks one up 

 without alighting. The flight of this bird is slow and somewhat laboured ; 

 the long wings are beat slowly to and fro in a regular Heron-like manner, 

 and the bird is not so capable of turning and twisting as the smaller Gulls 

 and the Terns. A flock not unfrequcntly rises to a great height, wheeling 

 round and round as Rooks occasionally, and Vultures habitually, do. The 

 Herring- Gull often alights on the ground, where it walks about very 

 gracefully, and it not unfrequently settles on the water, either to fish or 

 to rest ; it is veiy fond of standing on one leg, and often lies down. 



No bird attends the fishing-boats more closely than the Herring-Gull, 



* See footnote oil p. 323. 



