444 LAKID.E 



On April 15th, 1902, I had the good fortune to observe 

 an Iceland Gull in full adult nuptial plumage at the 

 mouth of the River Liffey, Dublin. I viewed it from the 

 deck of one of the cross-channel steamers, and twice it 

 almost brushed past my head. Presently it joined a flock 

 of Herring-Gulls congregated round a fishing-smack, from 

 which offal and other rubbish was being cast out. Amidst 

 this clamorous crowd I kept the fair-plumed bird in view, 

 and noticed how gracefully it wheeled and sailed on the 

 wing. More beautiful still did it appear as it passed to 

 and fro in front of the dark sails of a trawler, and displayed 

 its pale pinions against this most excellent background. 

 I noticed that it frequently swooped to the water and 

 demolished bits of dead fish, &c. 



It is generally admitted that the Iceland Gull as a 

 species, is less wary and suspicious of man's approach 

 than the Glaucous Gull. Thompson, in his 'Natural History 

 of Ireland,' cites an instance of one of these birds remaining 

 on the ground while being stoned by boys, and only flying 

 a few yards when actually struck. 



Flight. Attention has already been drawn to the con- 

 trast exhibited by this and the Glaucous Gull on the wing 

 (p. 440). The marked buoyancy and grace with which the 

 Iceland Gull glides on its proportionately longer and more 

 pointed pinions, are features by which it is not easily 

 mistaken. 



Voice. The voice is harsh and discordant, and the notes 

 are often repeated in rapid succession. 



Food. Here again the Iceland Gull differs somewhat in 

 its habits from its larger Northern congener ; the former 

 may be seen consorting amicably with other Gulls in fields, 1 

 following the plough in search of grubs, rather than hunting 

 the shore to obtain a meal off a stranded carcase. Mr. 

 Warren states that he has never seen this species feeding 

 on carrion or approaching a carcase lying on the shore 

 (' Irish Naturalist,' 1892, p. 154-5), though other writers 

 seem to differ on this point. I have not seen it actually 

 tearing a carcase, but it seems significant that in addition 

 to the bird which I observed feeding on dead fish thrown 

 from a trawler (vide supra) I noticed, on another occasion, 



1 I examined the gizzard of the specimen obtained in Kingstown 

 Harbour on March 4th, 1900 (p. 443), and found quantities of shreds of 

 corn-stems and roots mixed up with a few shrimps and small fish-bones. 



