612 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



those of the Lesser Blackbacked Gull, and the re- 

 mark I made on the eggs of the Hobby, Merlin and 

 Kestrel, will apply equally well to these two Gulls ; 

 and perhaps occasionally a large Herring Gull's egg 

 may be passed off as that of the Great Blackbacked 

 Gull. 



GREAT BLACKBACKED GULL, Larus marinus. There 

 is always one of these splendid Gulls to be seen 

 about Burnham, and I seldom go there without 

 seeing him : whether it is always the same, or 

 whether there are more of them about, I cannot 

 say, but I have never seen more than one at a time 

 there ; but this seems to be rather a peculiarity of 

 the species, as they do not ever appear to be very 

 sociable or to congregate in flocks as the other Gulls 

 do, but to keep about singly or at most in pairs. 

 They are generally very wary birds and difficult to 

 approach, except at their breeding places, or when 

 very busily employed in feeding. My Burnham 

 friend, I am glad to say, is great on this point, and 

 unless one of the Rifle Volunteers happens to make 

 a long shot at him, I think he is very likely to live 

 out the term of his natural life. 



The nearest breeding station of these Gulls now 

 is Lundy Island, for although they used to breed on 

 the Steep Holmes, I believe they do so no longer, 

 as that little island is almost destroyed as a breeding 

 station by Government fortification works and Bristol 

 and Cardiff excursionists. The nest is either placed 



