134 THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



grey, the rest white; legs pink, bill yellow. It is a regular winter visitor, 

 though rare on the South and West. It does not breed here. [The rarer 

 ICELAND GULL is of the same colour, but smaller in size.] 



The cries and calls are much like those of the other Gulls " Kau-kau- 

 kawkawkaw," and " Keeaw-keeaw." 



Gull, Great Black-backed. As its name implies, much larger than the 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull (30 inches). It has a dark slaty black back and 

 wings, and flesh-coloured legs. Does not breed on the East Coast, rarely on 

 the South, chiefly in Scotland and the West of Ireland ; but in winter is more 

 widely distributed. It nests often singly on a small islet in a loch or top of 

 some isolated rock; sometimes in colonies, but these are small. The eggs 

 are like those of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, but larger, and with more 

 prominent markings. The species is omnivorous, and it preys upon small 

 mammals and birds, such as wounded ducks and game birds. 



This bird, like its family, utters a hoarse cry, like a laugh, and also a high- 

 pitched cry like " Kiow." 



Gull, Herring. This bird is larger than the Common Gull (24 inches), and 

 has flesh-coloured legs, and a grey back and wing coverts ; a certain amount 

 of black on the primaries ; rest white ; bill yellow. The young are brown. 

 Found everywhere except where coast is flat. Often breeds in colonies on cliffs, 

 shingle, and grassy islands ; a bulky but neat nest of grass, etc. Two or three 

 eggs, varying in colour and markings stone-coloured, buff, brown, green, with 

 darker streaks and blotches. The alarm notes are hoarse cackles or barks 

 " Kak." 



Gull, Lesser Black-backed. Distinguished from the Herring Gull by the 

 darker grey on back and its yellow legs, but not so widely distributed for 

 example, only sparsely breeding on the South Coast, east of Devon, preferring 

 Western England and Scotland. 



It only occasionally nests on cliffs, preferring grass-covered tops of 

 islands, moors, or bogs, where it is found in colonies. The eggs are much 

 like the Herring Gull's. Like the latter, it is an omnivorous feeder. Alarm 

 note, " Ha-ha-ha-ha." 



Hairier, Montagu's. The Harriers are very rare : the MARSH HARRIER (21-24 

 inches) is almost extinct ; the HEN HARRIER (19-21 inches) nearly as rare ; 

 Montagu's Harrier (18-19 inches) generally breeds in Norfolk, and from Cornwall 

 to Surrey on arriving as a summer visitor. But it is a rare bird, and owes 

 its survival to the protection afforded it by the landowners on whose property 

 it nests. The nest is usually on moorland or among reeds. Generally three 

 eggs are laid, white, exactly like a bantam's. 



Heron, Common. There is no mistaking this grey bird, so often seen 

 standing in water, or with slow flapping wings, and head curved right back, 

 making for the distant heronry. It has a long yellow beak, long legs, grey 

 and white plumage, a V-shaped cap of dark blue-black on its white head, the 

 plumes being so long as to form a drooping crest. The female is slightly smaller. 



