LVII. 



LARUS CANUS. (linn.) 



Common Gull. 



This Gull is by no means so common upon the English 

 coast as several of the other species ; it breeds on some of the 

 Western Isles, and is met with, although few in number, on 

 many of the smaller grassy islands in Shetland ; it lays its 

 eggs, which are three, sometimes, upon the grass, at other 

 times upon the rock ; when in the former situation, its nest 

 is very slight, consisting of a small portion of dry grass ; on 

 the latter, it is commonly of a greater quantity of materials. 

 The eggs figured in the Plate, which were selected whilst in 

 Norway, from upwards of two thousand that had been ga- 

 thered for the use of the inhabitants, from one island only, 

 are not chosen, because they present the most singular varie- 

 ties ; but to give the best idea of thegeneral colouring ; of this 

 Figs. 1 and 3 are specimens ; Fig. 1 being given for its shape, 

 which is of unusual occurrence ; Fig. 3 is, however, rather 

 darker than common ; Fig. 2, one of those striking varieties 

 of which I possess an interesting and most singular series, 

 some so nearly like those of the Oyster Catcher, as not to be 

 distinguished from them, except in size, some covered through- 

 out with minute dots, others of every shade of colour, from 

 white to the deep brown of Fig. 3. 



