51 



HERRING-GULL. 



LARUS ARGENTATUS, J. F. Gmelin. 



Larus argentatus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 600 (1788) ; Nauru. 

 x. p. 379 ; Macff. v. p. 544 ; He wit son, ii. p. 499 ; Yarr. 

 ed. 4, iii. p. 618; Dresser, viii. p. 399. 



Goeland argente, French ; Silber-Move, German ; Gaviota 

 de Mar, Gaivota grande, Spanish. 



This is by far the most common cliff-breeding 

 species of Gull in England, and is also extremely 

 abundant in all suitable localities in Scotland and 

 Ireland. I do not think that any spot could be named 

 on the coast of England where a Herring-Gull might 

 not be seen on any given day in the year ; and in 

 rough weather, or after the subsidence of heavy floods, 

 it visits our river-valleys to very considerable dis- 

 tances inland. In the district of Northamptonshire 

 with which I am best acquainted we have an annual 

 irregular passage of this species from N.E. to S.W. 

 in August and the early part of September ; but at 

 these seasons the Gulls generally keep at a great height 



