06 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



throughout the year So, too, in Scotland, as in Sutherlandshire 

 on the friths. In Wales, in Caermarthenshire, near Tenby 

 and Laugharne. 



In Orkney it is described by Dr Baikie and Mr Heddle 

 as being pretty widely distributed. Also in Shetland 



These birds seldom advance tarther inland than the estuaries 

 of the sea. 



It is curious that this Gull should be very shy, while the 

 Wagel, the same bird, so called at a different and younger 

 period of life, is not by any means so much so It wouJci 

 seem as if, like other kinds, they find 'sero $ed serio' the 

 danger of any but a distant acquaintance with man So 

 again, as remarked above, the old ones go for the most part 

 singly or in pairs, while the young assemble in companies; 

 more than eight or ten are seldom seen together 



These are powerful birds, and at the same time bold and 

 daring, and stout opponents They may be kept in confinement, 

 and Mr Yarrell has furnished an account ol one as sent to 

 him by the Rev. Robert Holdsworth, which was hatched 

 successfully from an egg taken by the crew o( H.M Revenue 

 Cutter Vigilant, and lived for many years quite tame, near 

 Dartmouth. It swam in the river every day, and looked out 

 for the fishermen returning from sea, who were m the habit 

 of feeding it. 



The eggs are eaten and considered good by the inhabitants 

 of the northern islands. 



These birds float aloft at times on almost motionless pinions, 

 wheeling round and round in a chain of circles Their ordi- 

 nary flight is rather slow, but powerful, arid they wing their 

 way along without much seeming effort They sail buoyantly 

 on the water, and swim well 



They feed on fish, and anything that is capable o! being 

 fed upon, and are said even to attack and destroy iambs. 

 One has been seen to drop on a Guillemot which had just 

 been shot, and begin to devour it. Smaller birds are therefore, 

 as might be hence supposed, not objected to. They drive 

 away the Lesser Gulls from any prey they may have discovered. 



The note is a mere 'kac, kac, kac,' uttered in A loud, rough, 

 and harsh tone, capable of being heard at a great distance. 

 It is uttered most in the spring-time. 



The Great Black-backed Gull builds chiefly m marshes aud 

 low undrained moors, as also in and on the cliffs and rocky 

 islets of the sea-coast and of inland lakes, making its nest of 



