GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 255 



nard, he walks slowly about, cautious and fearful of a design 

 upon his gullship, and then, apparently satisfied, without hurry 

 or unbecoming haste, he proceeds to dinner. He still continues 

 feeding and watching until he thinks it time to be off. Now 

 look at him, how steadily he moves along with almost motion- 

 less pinions, reminding us of the eagle by his bold and beau- 

 tiful gyrations ; at times sailing along with outspread pinions, 

 he appears almost a fixed object against the clear blue sky ; a 

 few quick flaps, and round he goes again, until, annoyed at 

 our intrusion on his udal territory, he bursts into a loud gut- 

 tural laugh, followed by a hoarse, irritated cackle, and accom- 

 panied with a sudden swoop. A dull report a flash a hur- 

 ried flutter, and he has fallen from his " pride of place" lifeless 

 on the sandy beach. 



It has appeared strange to us the origin of the nearly ob- 

 solete word " gull," synonymous with a fool or one easily 

 duped, as, of all our Irish birds, there are few possessing such 

 wariness as the family of gulls, as oftentimes on a level 

 strand we have observed them taking flight before the pro- 

 verbially watchful heron could see the least cause of alarm. 



Indeed, we might say Pythagoras himself became resusci- 

 tated in the form of one of those birds ; as for sagacity, cun- 

 ning, watchfulness, and actual dignity of manner, none can 

 outvie the black-backed gull. His movements are conducted 

 with especial grace. He walks sedately, flies sedately, and 

 even when suddenly surprised, rises leisurely, and seldom 

 utters a cry to indicate alarm. 



The great black-backed gull obtains food by searching the 

 rejectamenta of the tide, and in some localities ventures in- 

 land, attracted by carrion, of which it partakes greedily ; 

 nor does it scruple to attack one of its brethren when slightly 

 wounded by the sportsman, and perhaps in a fair way of re- 

 covery, were it not for the equivocal attentions of these dubious 

 Samaritans so strangely illustrating the pro verb of " safety 

 from our friends." 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 245 THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Larus fuscus. Linn. 

 Mouette a pied jaunes. Temm. 



Gray Gull. 



THIS beautiful species, from its similarity to the preceding in 

 form and marking, might almost pass for a small variety, 



