LESSEE BLACK-BACKED GULL. 9J 



It is indigenous in Ireland, but local; likewise in several 

 parts of Scotland, both on the inland lakes and the sea-shore, 

 in Dumfriesshire and other counties; and in Wales has been 

 noticed in the Isle of Anglesea. It is also a constant 

 inhabitant in Orkney, but in winter is the most plentiful; so 

 too in Zetland. 



When engaged with their nest and young, these Gulls are 

 very bold and daring, and will dash about and at an intruder 

 in the most fearless, intrepid, and impetuous manner, not 

 demeaning themselves to the 'suggestio falsi,' the expedient 

 of birds of a more gentle nature: at other times they are 

 far from shy. The old birds will not allow the younger ones 

 to inhabit their breeding stations. They are capable of being 

 kept in confinement, like the other species. They often follow 

 the course of rivers a long way up. They associate with and 

 build in the same places as the Herring (lulls. 



They fly well, skimming over the sea, and not high when 

 over the land. 



They feed on fishes; also on insects, caterpillars and worms, 

 which they search for several miles inland in the fields. One 

 kept by Mr. Selby used to swallow young birds. 



The present species builds on bare and barren islands, both 

 those of the sea-coast and those of inland lakes, as well as 

 on the margin of the mainland. Steep and precipitous cliffs 

 are used, as well as low marshy moors and sandy places a 

 little way inland. 



The nest is a tolerable quantity of grass, with occasionally, 

 though rarely, some sea-weed placed loosely together in some 

 slight hollow in the rock or the adjacent herbage, the latter 

 least frequently. 



The eggs, which are two, three, or four in number, are of 

 almost every variety of shade of green and brown, olive green, 

 olive brown, and stone-colour, thickly spotted with grey, brown 

 of two shades, and brownish black. 



The first or second week in June is the time of building. 



Male; weight, about thirty-six ounces, or sometimes more; 

 length, one foot and eleven inches, to two feet; bill, yellow, 

 the angle on the lower part red; iris, pale yellow; the eye- 

 lids vermilion red. There is a dusky spot before the eye in 

 winter. Head, crown, neck, and nape, white, in winter streaked 

 with dusky brown; chin, throat, and breast, white; back, dark 

 slate grey. 



The wings extend to the width of four feet and a half, 



