66 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs 



■ — and breeds in many of the rockier districts, and on the inland lakes. The 

 largest colony known to Thompson was, and is still, we learn, on Rams Island, in 

 Lough Neagh, "where, from the people believing that it subsists on the Coregonus 

 pollan, it is called the Pollan Gull, or Lough Neagh Herring Gull, from the names 

 applied to this fish " ; Lough Conn, in Co. Mayo, is another of its breeding 

 haunts. 



The Lesser Black-backed Gull does not range east of the 50th meridian, but 

 it is found breeding over all Europe west of that line (Iceland excepted), and as 

 far south as the Mediterranean. In winter it migrates from its most northerly 

 nesting haunts ; but is found resident in increasing numbers the further south of 

 about the 35 th parallel one goes ; while large flocks find their way to North 

 Africa and the Persian Gulf, and on the west reach to and beyond the Western 

 Isles as far down the coast of the African mainland as the Gulf of Guinea. It 

 is unknown on the western hemisphere. 



The sexes of this species agree in plumage; but in size the female is rather 

 less than the male, and has a somewhat weaker bill. 



In its summer or nuptial dress, the Lesser Black-backed Gull is everywhere 

 pure white, except on the back and wings, which are in general colour black — 

 which varies through many shades from pale to deep black ; the longest scapulars 

 and the secondaries have white tips which form a very prominent alar bar ; quills 

 are nearly black, the first two have a white mirror and bluish-grey bases, on the 

 third the grey becomes a " wedge," and increases on the succeeding feathers till 

 the black left is only a subterminal bar, which has gradually vanished by the 

 seventh leaving the rest of the quills slate- grey, tipped with white ; eye encircled 

 by a scarlet ring ; bill yellow, its angle red ; legs and feet paler yellow than the 

 bill. Total length 21 inches; wing 16J; tail 6i; tarsus 2I; middle toe with its 

 claw 2i. 



This species mates early in the spring of its fifth year. Harting, 

 who visited this bird's breeding stronghold, did not observe there a single indi- 

 vidual in the mottled plumage peculiar to the immature bird, and believes that 

 none do breed until the full adult plumage is attained. 



In May the Lesser Black-backed Gulls select their nesting place, betaking them- 

 selves, as Macgillivray states, " to unfrequented islands, headlands, and sometimes 

 inland lakes [and mosses], often in considerable numbers, and there remain until their 

 young are able to fly, although they make extensive excursions around in search 

 of food." On the Teifi Bog, in mid- Wales, about twelve miles from the sea, the 

 nests are placed " on slight hillocks, generally in deep heather, the vicinity, with 

 trampled grass and scattered feathers, being suggestive of a goose green" (Salter). 



