GULLS AND TERNS. 27 



a brood from a second clutch at the Fames, and 

 most rigorously protected whilst doing so. 



HERRING-GULL. 



Of all the gulls that frequent the British coasts, 

 this, the well-known Larus argentatus (i.e. "silver- 

 winged "), is certainly the most common and widely 

 dispersed. It is no exaggeration to say that the 

 Herring-Gull may be met with on every part of 

 the British coasts, from the Orkney and Shetland 

 Islands on the north, to Cornwall and the Scilly 

 Islands in the south ; from the Blasquets in the 

 wild west of Ireland, to the mouth of the Thames 

 and the Bass Rock in the east. It is the Gull par 

 excellence associated in the popular mind with the 

 sea shore the "Sea Gull" of the visitor to marine 

 resorts, ubiquitous, well-known from the Land's 

 End to John-o'-Groat's. For its size, it is certainly 

 the tamest and least suspecting Gull found on 

 British waters. It may be readily recognised, 

 when adult, by the pale grey colour of its mantle, 

 but the young and immature birds are less easily 

 identified. During the non-breeding season it 

 wanders far and wide like the rest of its kind, and 

 is a very frequent visitor to the fields, not only 

 adjoining the sea, but at some distance inland. 

 Whilst tilling operations are in progress, especially 

 in spring, it passes regularly from the coast to 

 the fields, following the plough, or collecting upon 

 the newly-manured pastures, in quest of food. 



