GULL. NATATORES. LARUS. 505 
Black-backed Gull. Latiam, in his Index Ornithologicus, 
has unfortunately added to this confusion, by adopting the 
Herring Gull of the British Zoology as a synonym of L. 
JSuscus, and describing the L. argentatus of Brunnicu (the 
true Herring Gull), as merely a variety of the Greater Black- 
backed Gull (Larus marinus). This misapplication of terms 
has been rectified by Trmminck, in the second edition of his 
** Manuel d’Ornithologie,” and by Dr Fiemine, in his His- 
tory of British Animals, where the distinctive characters of 
each are satisfactorily pointed out.—The partial distribution 
of the various species of Gulls, especially during the breed- 
ing season, cannot have escaped the notice of those inte- 
rested in ornithological pursuits ; and to this must be attri- 
buted the comparative rarity of the present species upon the 
Northumbrian coast, where, however, its place is amply sup- 
plied by the Lesser Black-backed Gull. On the western 
side of the island, particularly on the coast of Wales, and 
along the Bristol Channel, the Herring Gull is, on the con- 
trary (as we learn from Monracv), the predominant species, 
being to L. fuscus in the proportion of fifty to one. It there 
breeds in immense numbers, in an island off St David's 
Headland, placing its nest, which is composed of dried 
grasses, among the herbage and loose stones. The eggs, 
two or three in number, are of a deep oil-green, blotched and 
spotted with blackish-brown. Like the other large Gulls, it 
feeds upon fish, and other marine produce, such as star-fish, 
crabs, and various crustacez ; and is observed to trample the 
soft sand, by moving its feet alternately on the same spot, in 
order to bring to the surface the shrimps and worms from 
beneath. It also devours the eggs of the other sea-fowl ; and 
upon the Fern Islands I have almost amnually observed two 
or three of these birds, apparently barren, that subsisted by 
plundering the nests of its congeners, and the Terns, Guil- 
lemots, &c., on which account the name of the Ege-Gull has 
been there bestowed. Dr Fremine mentions having found 
a quantity of wheat in the stomach of a bird of this species. 
Nest, &c. 
Food. 
