GULLS. 131 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus maximus). 



Eesident ; but also partially migratory, as it is distributed 

 pretty generally round our coasts in winter. Its breeding haunts 

 are fewer than the two last species. It nests in fair numbers on 

 Lundy Island, Scilly Isles, in Cornwall, on the Welsh coast, in 

 Cumberland, and at several stations in Scotland and Ireland. 



Observation. Our largest Gull. 



Plumage. Bill yellow. Legs and feet flesh-colour, otherwise 

 it is a larger edition of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Length 

 30 in. 



Language. A loud querulous cackling. 



Habits. Generally it resembles the Gulls already mentioned. 

 It is crafty, suspicious, and vigilant. It is a noble bird in 

 appearance, and has a strong powerful flight. 



Food. All kinds of animal matters. It devburs eggs, and 

 will kill and eat weakly mammals and birds. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. On the top of some stack of rocks, on the ground on 

 cliff-side, sometimes on the shore. 



Materials. Grass, seaweed, &c., with a few feathers and 

 some wool for a lining ; it is ill-compacted and bulky. 



Eggs. Two or three. Greyish brown or buff, spotted and 

 blotched with dark brown and grey. Much larger than any 

 other Gull's egg. 



GLAUCOUS GULL (Larus glaucus). 



A winter visitor to the northern parts of these islands. In 

 size it almost equals 'the last, but it is distinguished from 

 same by its nearly white wings and no black back. Breeds 

 in circ unipolar regions. 



ICELAND GULL (Larus leucopterus). 



A straggler in autumn and winter from circumpolar regions. 

 It has very pale wings like the last, which generally it much 

 resembles, but is smaller, being about the size of the Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull. 



KITTIWAKE GULL (Rissa tndactyla). 



Resident. Widely distributed, and abundant in suitable 

 localities. Essentially a sea-bird, it haunts rocky coast-lines 

 where the cliffs are high and precipitous. In Scotland and 

 Ireland it is very abundant, and in England it nests prin- 

 cipally on the Fame Islands, at Flamborough, Isle of Man, 

 Lundy Island, Devonshire and Cornwall, and on the Welsh 

 coast. 



