OF ]S■OETHTJMBERLA^^D AXD DURHAM. 139 



17. Lessee Black-backed Gtju. L. Eusctis, Linmeus. 

 Larus fuscus, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 199. 



,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 583, 



A very common resident species in both counties. It breeds 

 abundantly at tbe Earne Islands, and also inland in the unculti- 

 vated districts. Greenlee Lough is one of its stations, and an- 

 other, I was informed by the late Dr. Charlton, is on a moss a 

 few miles north of Bellingham. 



In 1837 Dr. Charlton gave me two young Lesser Black-backed 

 Gulls in the downy state, that were bred in the latter locality. 

 One of these birds I presented to the late Mr. Sewell, of Jes- 

 mond Yale, where it lived in confinement for several years. On 

 the death of that gentleman the bird passed into the possession of 

 my friend, Mr. Eobert K. Dees, of Wallsend, in whose grounds 

 it lived until within the last five or six years when it died, hav- 

 ing enjoyed a tranquil life extending over at least thirty years. 



Another instance of the duration of life of the Gull has been 

 communicated to me by my friend, Mr. D. M. Webster, of Edin- 

 burgh. He says, "James Tough, nurseryman, Kirkcaldy, county 

 Fife, was the possessor of the Gull. I knew of its beiag in the 

 nurseries from 1853 till 1870, seventeen years : it had been in 

 his possession some ten or twelve years previous to 1853, and was 

 not a young-looking bird when he received it. It died in 1870, 

 and could not have been less than thirty years old, probably 

 several years more ; it had laid eggs for several years. 



18. HEEiiiiSr& GrxL. L. aegejsttattjs, Brilnnich. 



Larus argentaUis, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 194. 

 ,, ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 588. 



This fine species, which is common, is a resident. It breeds 

 at the Fame Islands, where however it is scarce. "We took two 

 nests of this species there in June, 1831. 



In this locality the Herring Gull nests on the same island 

 with the Cormorant. As our boat approached the island, the 

 Cormorants left their nests in a body, and flew to an adjacent 



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