GREAT BLACK-BACKflD GULL. 307 



as affording all that they can desure. One by one they arrive, the older 

 individuals first. As they view from afar the land of their birth, that 

 moment they emit their loud cries, with all the joy a traveller feels when 

 approaching his loved home. The males sooner or later fall in with the 

 females of their choice, and together they proceed to some secluded sand- 

 bar, where they fill the air with their furious laughs until the rocks echo 

 again. Should the student of nature happen to be a distant spectator of 

 these meetings, he too must have much enjoyment. Each male bows, 

 moves around his mate, and no doubt discloses to her the ardour of his 

 love. Matters are managed to the satisfaction of all parties, yet day after 

 day for a while, at the retreat of the waters, they meet as if by mutual 

 agreement. Now you see them dressing their plumage, now partially ex- 

 panding their wings to the sun ; some lay themselves comfortably down 

 on the sand, while others, supported by one foot, stand side by side. 

 The waters again advance, and the Gulls all move off in search of food. 

 At length the time has arrived; small parties of a few pairs fly to- 

 wards the desert isles. Some remain in the nearest to prepare their nests, 

 the rest proceed, until each pair has found a suitable retreat, and before 

 a fortnight has elapsed, incubation has commenced. 



The nest of this species is usually placed on the bare rock of some 

 low island, sometimes beneath a projecting shelf, sometimes in a wide fis- 

 sure. In Labrador it is formed of moss and seaweeds carefully arranged, 

 and has a diameter of about two feet, being raised on the edges to the 

 height of five or six inches, but seldom more than two inches tliick in the 

 centre, where feathers, dry grass, and other materials are added. The 

 eggs are three, and in no instance have I found more. They are two 

 inches and seven-eighths in length, by^two inches and one-eighth in breadth, 

 broadly ovate, rough but not granulated, of a pale earthy greenish-grey 

 colour, irregularly blotched and spotted with brownish-black, dark umber, 

 and dull purple. Like those of most other Gulls, they afford good eat- 

 ing. This species lays from the middle of May to that of June, and 

 raises only one brood in the season. The birds never leave their eggs 

 for any length of time, until the young make their appearance. Both 

 sexes incubate, the sitting bird being supplied with food by the other. 

 During the first week, the young are fed by having their supplies dis- 

 gorged into their bill, but when they have attained some size, the food is 

 dropped beside or before them. When they are approached by man, 

 they walk with considerable speed towards some hiding place, or to the 



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