5\ 



GKEAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



LARUS MARINUS, Linn. 



Larus marinus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 225 (1766) ; Naum. x. p. 438 ; 

 Macg. v. p. 526 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 501 ; Yarr. ed. 4, Hi. 

 p. 631 ; Dresser, viii. p. 427. 



Gotland a manteau noir, French ; Mantel-Move, German ; 

 Alcatrdz, Spanish ; Gavindt, Valencian. 



This Gull, though not so abundant on our British 

 coasts as several other species of the Laridce, is pro- 

 bably well known by sight to those of my readers who 

 have visited and remained at almost any sea-side resort 

 for any length of time. The superior size of this bird 

 to our other Galls is of course sufficient to identify it 

 at a reasonable distance, and the load angry bark to 

 which both old and young constantly give utterance 

 differs very perceptibly from the cry of any of the 

 smaller species. During the autumn and winter the 

 young of the Great Black-back, or, as it is often called, 

 " Saddle-back " Gull, are to be met with all round our 

 coasts and frequently at a considerable distance inland ; 

 but only a few pairs are known to nest in the south of 

 England. In Scotland, however, this Gull breeds in 



