BRITISH BIRDS. 195 



each a roundish white spot on the outer webs 

 near the tips ; others are marked differently on 

 the quills: legs pale flesh colour. The back and 

 wings of some of this species, which are supposed 

 to be the young not arrived at full plumage, are 

 ash-coloured, spotted with brown. 



This species is common on the British shores ; 

 they make their nests of dry grass, mixed with 

 sea- weed, on the projecting ledges of the rocks, 

 and lay three eggs of an olive ground, spotted 

 with black. They have obtained their name from 

 pursuing and preying upon the shoals of herrings. 

 Fishermen describe them as the constant, bold, 

 intruding attendants on their nets, from which 

 they find it difficult to drive them away. This 

 species, like the Lesser Black-backed Gull, is met 

 with in the northern seas, but has been observed 

 to wander farther into southern climates. 



This Gull is said to 'be remarkable for its vigi- 

 lance, for, on the approach of the sportsman with 

 his gun, it seems all upon the alert, and, by its 

 clamorous well-known cries, intimates the danger 

 to other birds. 



