24 BRITISH SEA BIRDS. 



4 'little mantle wearer," and refers to the dark slate- 

 gray mantle. Unlike its larger ally the present 

 species is very gregarious, and socially inclined at 

 all seasons, mixing freely not only with its 

 own kind, but with the Herring Gull and the 

 smaller forms, such as the Kittiwake, and the 

 Common Gull. These latter birds, however, must 

 too often prefer its room to its company, for it 

 repeatedly robs them of their prey, and is, Gull- 

 like, ever ready to profit by the labours of its 

 weaker congeners. Like the preceding species it 

 is almost omnivorous in its tastes, and will as 

 readily make a meal from stranded garbage on the 

 shore, as from the living fish it deftly swoops 

 upon as they swim near the surface. On the 

 Lincolnshire coasts it visits the flight nets, in 

 company with the Hooded Crows, and preys 

 upon any birds that may be entangled in them. 

 It is also a persistent follower of ships, attending 

 the trawlers, and feeding upon the refuse fish cast 

 overboard when the trawl net is emptied. It 

 swims lightly enough even on a rough sea, riding 

 like a cork on the wave -crests, and sleeps upon 

 the water, when roaming far from land. Flocks of 

 this Gull may often be seen standing upon the 

 mud-flats or level sandy reaches, preening their 

 plumage, and waiting, it may be, for a turn of the 

 tide that may bring some particular food of which 

 they are in quest. It will be remarked that these 

 larger Gulls, especially, often run for a short distance 



