v 200 COMMON GULL. 



bund on the tail, and a little blackish-brown towards 

 the middle of the beak. The plumage becomes per- 

 fect on the cessation of its second vernal moult. 

 During the summer months the old birds have the 

 head, the occiput, the nape, and the sides of the neck 

 of a spotless and perfect white ; in other respects the 

 plumage agrees with that of the winter. It some- 

 times happens that the two primary quills are not 

 tipped with white, or at least that that colour is 

 nearly obliterated. 



This species inhabits the sea-coasts, but upon the 

 appearance of storms or hurricanes it flies in flocks 

 into the interior of the country : it is common in 

 most parts of Europe, and is most abundant in those 

 latitudes during the winter months, as a great number 

 retire to the Arctic regions in the summer. 



These birds breed upon the ledges of the rocks 

 close to the sea-shore ; sometimes not far above the 

 water. Montagu says that he saw hundreds of them 

 sitting on their nests in an island off St. David's : 

 their nests were made of sea- weed, and were placed 

 near together, about fourteen feet from the beach : 

 the eggs were two or three in number, of a dull olive- 

 brown, blotched with dusky, and about the size of 

 those of a Hen. 



They feed on living fishes, marine mollusca, and 

 bivalva testacea : they are often observed at the mouths 

 of the large rivers, in numbers, picking up the animal 

 substances which arc cast on shore, or come floating 

 down with the tide. During the spring months they 

 will follow the plough for the sake of the worms and 

 larva that are exposed by its operation. 



