Binh. 7501 



Eggs, 3. Olive-brown or light testaceous-brown, thickly spotted 

 and blotched with brown of two shades. 



Herring Gull, Lams argeiiiatus. 



Situation. On sea-difFs and rocky islands near the coast of Wales, 

 St. David's Headland, the Isle of Wight, St. Kilda, &c. 



Materials. Dry grasses and fern (Eupteris aquilina). 



Eggs, .3. " The fishermen told us that these gulls will lay three 

 eggs again, if the first three are taken, and three more when* the 

 second three are taken, but no more than this, nine being the whole 

 stock for one year." — Rusticus. They are olive-brown, with black- 

 brown spots. At Freshwater these gulls " are for ever scanning the 

 face of the cliflFto catch a glimpse of an unprotected egg of the guil- 

 lemot: directly a gull has found one he charges point-blank at the 

 small end, using his beak as a lance : the huge egg, thus pierced, sticks 

 on his beak, and he flies away as though he were carrying a great pear 

 in front of his head : in this way he sucks out all the goodness while 

 on the wing, and drops the shell when empty. These shells, with a 

 great hole at one end, may often be found upon the downs above." 

 — Rusticus. " This bird is easily domesticated, and breeds in con- 

 finement."— Zoo/. 1385. 



Great BlaCkbacked Gull, Larus marinus. 



Situation. On the ground on the Sleep Holmes and Lundy Island 

 in the Bristol Channel, Souliskerry in the Orkneys, the Bass Island 

 in the Firth of Forth, St. Kilda, &c. 



Materials. Sea-weed and dry grass in large quantities. 



Eggs, 3. Dark olive-green, blotched with black-brown. 



Common Skua, Lestris catarractes. 



Situation. On the ground on wild heaths in the Shetland Islands, 

 breeding in companies on the hills called Foula and Ronas, on the 

 main island ; and also on the small island of Unst. 



Materials. Dried grass and dry ling. 



Eggs, 2. Dark olive-green or olive-brown, blotched with black- 

 brown, intermixed with a few small whitish spots. 



Richardson's Skua, Lestris Richardsoni. 



Situation. On the ground on wild heaths, both in the Orkney and 

 Shetland Islands, breeding in companies. 



Materials. Dried grass and moss. 



Eggs, 2. Dark olive-green, with irregular blotches of brown. 



Fulmar Petrel, Procellaria glacialis. 



Situation. Sea-clifFs in the St. Kilda Islands. 



Materials, Generally a small quantity of thrift and dried grass. 



