432 LARID^E 



hung down as if broken. The bird was not at all shy, and 

 swooped to the water directly I cast bread overboard. 

 I continued my observations until dark, retiring to my 

 cabin a little after ten o'clock. On reaching the deck next 

 morning the first bird that caught my eye as we steamed up 

 the Clyde to Greenock was a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 

 with a hanging leg, and in similar plumage to the bird 

 which left Dublin Bay the night before and accompanied 

 the vessel out to sea. It was doubtless the same bird. 



Flight. The flight is buoyant and well sustained, and 

 this Gull, like its congeners, can keep on the wing for hours 

 during fierce gales. 



Food. Most of the remarks which apply to the feeding- 

 habits of the Herring-Gull are also applicable to this 

 voracious bird, though I cannot be certain that I have 

 seen the Lesser Black-backed Gull drop molluscs from a 

 height to break their shells. Harbours and city-rivers, 

 even those far from the sea, are mainly visited for the 

 purpose of securing the much-relished floating offal. Small 

 Gulls are sometimes chased until they disgorge their food, 

 which is at once seized and eaten by these larger assailants. 

 Indigestible pellets of this and of other large Gulls are often 

 found to contain feathers, fur (chiefly that of young rabbits) , 

 and bones. 



Voice. The alarm-note is not unlike that of the Herring- 

 Gull, but fuller and less piercing. When first disturbed 

 the bird utters a mournful gdl-du, gdl-du, gdl-au ; after 

 much repetition this shortens into dldu, dldu, did, did, did. 

 The young bird squeaks in a highly-pitched key. 



Nest. In its nesting-habits this bird differs somewhat 

 from the Herring-Gull. For the former is almost as partial 

 to inland situations, such as moors, marshes, the shores 

 and islands of inland lakes, as to the coast. But, like the 

 Herring-Gull, it frequently selects precipitous situations 

 on sea-cliffs, though its colonies usually consist of small 

 numbers. It also breeds on low, maritime islands, usually 

 luxuriant in grasses and other herbage, though bare stony 

 sites may be chosen. 



The nests vary considerably in size ; some are mere 

 depressions scantily lined with grasses, others are large and 

 compact, being built of turf-mound, heather-twigs, and sea- 

 plants, with a lining of fine dry grass. 



brown, the breast and throat turning white with some grey spots still 

 visible ; the wings brownish-black, the head streaked with grey. 



