196 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
Larus marinus, Linn. 
Pl. XXXIV., fig. 2. 
Geogr. distr.—In Europe almost restricted to the northern and 
central parts, but straggling southwards in winter; N.E. America. 
In Great Britain it is generally distributed on the coast during the 
winter, but in the summer it principally frequents the northern 
counties, breeding, however, on the coast of Caermarthenshire, the 
Steep Holmes, and Lundy Island, but most abundantly in the Orkney 
and Shetland Islands, ke. 
Food.—Fish and Crustacea. 
Nest.—Bulky, formed of dry grass, moss, heather, sheep’s wool, 
and large feathers carelessly heaped together. 
Position of nest.—On the ground amongst grass. 
Number of eggs.—4. 
Time of nidrfication.—V-VI1. 
Mr. Booth says that “‘in the Highlands the Greater 
Black-Backed Gull causes considerable loss to many of the 
small sheep farmers and crofters, who are unable to give 
the necessary care and protection to the few animals they 
possess. A weakly ewe is no sooner discovered than she is 
set upon, and after being forced into some crevice among 
the rocks, or slowly butchered by thrusts from their power- 
ful bills, the lamb next falls an easy victim. Such facts, I 
am aware, have been denied by some writers; but during 
the last few years several instances have come under my 
observation, in addition to the reports I have heard from 
shepherds and small owners. The young of Grouse and 
many other birds breeding on the moors are also greedily 
devoured by these robbers, and no exposed egg is safe if 
once it has attracted their notice. 
“The nest, like that of most sea-birds, is by no means 
elaborately constructed, differing slightly in its composition 
according to the locality. On the sea-coast it is placed 
among the rough herbage on the upper ledge of a rocky 
cliff, or at times in some cavity among the bare stones. 
Coarse grass with strands from any adjacent plants are the 
principal materials, with now and then a small quantity of 
fine dead sea-weed. A few feathers are usually to be seen 
in the nest or scattered around, but these are probably 
plucked by the birds themselves while cleaning their 
plumage.’’—(‘ Rough Notes,’ Part IX.) 
