Great Black-backed Gull. 537 



harsh, a sort of rough barking noise or a hoarse laugh. It is 

 also most wary and suspicious of danger, and is not easy of 

 approach. Sir R. Payne-Gallwey says : ' Black-blacked Gulls 

 are as " Vultures of the Sea," and scent plunder from afar. They 

 will attack a disabled Wigeon or Teal, and tear it in pieces in a 

 few seconds, ripping open the breast as with a knife. They may 

 be often seen to lift their prey with the bill, a few yards into the 

 air, only to let it fall. They would like to carry it to the land to 

 feast at leisure, but their feet not being formed for grasping, they 

 cannot retain a hold of their capture.'* In Kent and Essex it is 

 called c Cob,' from its large size, after the same rule by which we 

 call a large species of nut a Cob-nut, and a big pony a Cob, etc. 

 In Sussex it is called the ' Parson Gull,' from a supposed resemb- 

 lance in its black and white plumage to the hood and surplice of 

 a clergyman. In Sweden, too, it is generally known as the Prost, 

 or 'Deacon,' as its dress is said to resemble the attire of a 

 Lutheran priest in full canonicals, or as some wickedly declare 

 from its lugubrious voice ! The Rev. A. P. Morres has several 

 times seen them flying overhead at some elevation, both in his 

 own parish and quite recently at Clarendon, when they were at 

 no very great height above him. Mr. Grant has received at 

 various times three specimens of this fine Gull for preservation ; 

 one from Wootton Bassett, on July 24th, 1873 ; another from 

 Bromham, July 30th of the same year ; and the third on August 

 27th, 1874, from Cheverell. In France it is Gdeland a manteau 

 noir ; in Germany, Mantel Meve, ' Cloak Gull ' ; in Sweden, Hajs 

 Trut, ' Sea Trut.' 



230. COMMON SKUA (Lestris cataractes). 



The robber Gulls, of which this is the more common species, 

 may be distinguished from their more honest peaceful brethren, 

 described above, by the formidable hooked beak and strong- 

 crooked talons with which they are armed, and with which they 

 are able to hold fast the prey they have seized, and to tear it in 

 pieces while so holding it. In these respects they resemble the 

 ' The Fowler in Ireland,' p. 88. 



