NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 181 



in many parts of Scotland and Ireland, either in solitary pairs or in small 

 colonies. It feeds largely on animal food, attacking sickly sheep and 

 lambs, and devouring the eggs and young of game-birds and water- 

 fowl, as well as carrion. On account of its predatory habits, large num- 

 bers are annually destroyed. The roughly constructed nest, made of 

 seaweed, dry grass, etc., is usually situated on some isolated stack of 

 rock or on an islet in some secluded mountain-loch. The eggs, two or 

 three in number, are brownish-buff, blotched and spotted with umber 

 and dark grey. 



Sutherlandshire, May. 



Presented by Colonel L. H. Irby <V Captain S. G. Reid. 



No. 120. COMMON GULL. (Larus canus.) 



During the colder months of the year this species is generally distri- 

 buted along the coasts of the British Islands and frequently seen inland, 

 but in April the majority of adults move northwards. It is not known 

 to nest in England or Wales, but in Scotland and the adjacent islands, 

 as well as in parts of Ireland, large colonies are numerous. Open moors, 

 the islands in both salt- and fresh-water lochs, and the less precipitous 

 coasts, are the favourite breeding-places. When at sea, this Gull feeds 

 on small fish etc., but inland it is frequently to be seen following the 

 plough in search of worms and grubs, or hawking insects on the wing. 

 The somewhat large nest is made of any convenient materials, such as 

 grass, heather, or seaweed. The eggs, usually three in number, are 

 laid early in May, and vary greatly in colour, but are generally olive- 

 brown spotted with dark brown, 



Island of Mousa, Shetlands, June. 

 Presented by E. M. Nelson, Esq. 



No. 121. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



(Lams fuscus.) 



Though common on all the coasts of the British Islands during the 

 greater part of the year, this species is somewhat local in its distribution 

 during the breeding-season, when large numbers congregate on moors, 

 turf-clad slopes, or flat-topped islands, in preference to the ledges of 

 cliffs. Being almost omnivorous and especially partial to the eggs and 

 young of game-birds and water-fowl, it is constantly destroyed by 

 game-preservers. The nest, which is made of grass, dry seaweed, etc., 

 was placed in the present instance at the intersection of two sheep- 



