55" 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



LARUS FUSCUS, Linn. 



Larus fuscus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 225 (1766) ; Naum. x. p. 419; 

 Macg. v. p. 538; Heivitson, ii. p. 496; Yarr. ed. 4, iii. 

 p. 624; Dresser, viii. p. 421. 



Gotland a piedsjaunes, French ; Herings-Move, German ; 

 Gaviota de Mar, Spanish. 



This Gull is abundant in many parts of our Islands, 

 especially in Scotland ; but in the English Channel and 

 along the whole line of our south coast it is very much 

 less common than the Herring-Gull. In general habits 

 this Gull much resembles the bird last-named, but 

 although it nests in large numbers in certain localities 

 on the ledges of cliffs, it is more frequently to be found 

 breeding in colonies on flat marshes and moor-lands 

 than that species. 



The Lesser Black-back is a terrible enemy to the 

 eggs and young of all ground-breeding birds. I was 

 informed by the game-keepers on a shooting that I 

 rented for many years in Inverness-shire, at a considerable 

 distance from the sea, that large numbers of these Gulls, 

 for the most part in immature plumage, appeared regu- 



