LARID^E. 291 



report of others is not stated, that this Gull manifests a 

 strong attachment to the seal, and renders it essential ser- 

 vice in the following ways : It is the custom of the seals 

 to lie upon the rocks for hours in succession ; and so well 

 acquainted are the natives of those parts which they fre- 

 quent with their haunts, that they raise small bulwarks to 

 conceal their approach. "This Gull, however, frequently 

 frustrates all these precautions by sounding the note of 

 alarm, thereby informing the seal that danger is close at 

 hand ; and if the latter is not disposed to avail himself of 

 this friendly intimation, they will frequently strike him on the 

 head with their feet. When the seal retires into the water, 

 all further care on their part ceases, as they consider him 

 then in a situation to protect himself; but should he appear 

 again within gunshot of the place he has left, the Gull will 

 dart down at him, and frequently splash the water in his 

 face, as if to threaten him for his temerity" (Dunn's ' Orni- 

 thologist's Guide/ etc.). The nest of the present species, 

 which is large, is composed of dry grass, seaweed, etc., and 

 the eggs, three, and occasionally, but rarely, four in num- 

 ber, are of a greenish-brown colour spotted with grey and 

 brown. 



THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Lams fnscus. As 



