85 



COMMON GULL. 



SEA MEW. 



Larus canus, LINNAEUS. 



Larus A ravenous sea-bird. Canus Hoary. 



Tins Gull is not so common, as compared with other British 

 species, as its name imports. 



In Europe, it is plentiful on the shores of Lapland, Norway, 

 the Ferroe Islands, Holland, France, Italy, and Spain. In 

 Asia, in Persia and about the Caspian Sea; and in America, 

 in the northern regions. 



These birds breed in great numbers in Yorkshire, about 

 Flamborough Head; individuals are shot almost every year 

 in the neighbourhood of Leeds, in the West-Biding, and a 

 few have occurred at Barnsley, Hebden Bridge, York, and 

 Sheffield; on the coast they are numerous. In Cornwall, they 

 are common at Penryn Kiver and other parts of the shore; 

 so also in Kent and Essex, by the sides of the Thames. In 

 Norfolk, about Yarmouth and along the sea-board, commonly; 

 thus too in Lincolnshire, Sussex, Dorsetshire, and in fact all 

 round the island. Some are seen in Northamptonshire nearly 

 every winter; the same remark applies to Oxfordshire, as 

 also to Cambridgeshire. In Derbyshire, they occur occasionally 

 along the Trent side. In Surrey near Grodalming, and one 

 at Fair Mile Common, near Cobham, December 26th., 1836; 

 one also on the River Mole, near Hampton Court. 



In Scotland, about St. Abb's Head, in the county of 

 Berwick, in vast quantities; so too in Sutherlandshire Mr. 

 Selby mentions several breeding stations, namely, on Loch 

 Shin, Loch Laigal, and various smaller lochs. It is common 

 in Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides. So likewise in 

 Ireland, and also in Wales. 



They frequent the sea-coast, especially near the mouths of 



