HERRING GULL. 197 
HERRING GULL. 
Larus arGentatus, Gmelin. 
Pl. XXXIV., fig. 8. 
Geogr. distr.—Throughout northern and central Europe eastward 
to Russia, and in the breeding season throughout Burope; N.E. 
America. Resident and widely distributed in Great Britain, occurring 
on most parts of our coasts during the breeding season. 
Food.—Fish, Mollusca, Crustacea, and starfish. 
Nest.—Usually bulky and formed of rough dry grass, with part or 
the sod attached, and fragments of sea-weed, or sometimes a mere 
hole scratched in the soil, with little or no lining. 
Position of nest.—Usually on patches of grass on precipitous rocks, 
or on ledges of cliffs, but sometimes on the surface of low, flat rocks 
amongst grass and loose stones. 
Number of eggs.—2-3. 
Time of nidification.—V. 
This species has been frequently known to breed in con- 
finement in a garden. In a wild state it is shy and 
suspicious, and very often, by its angry cries, gives notice 
to other birds in its vicinity of the approach of an invader. 
Its flight is heavy and laboured, but its walk, though some- 
what laughable, is in a measure graceful; the steps taken 
deliberately ; but, with the least excitement, changing into 
the most ridiculous little tripping run, reminding one of a 
delicate lady crossing a crowded thoroughfare. 
Mr. Harting says :—‘ The cry of the Herring Gull is not 
unlike that of the Common Gull, a sort of hoarse laugh or 
a cackle, sounding like ‘ wa-agh-agh-agh-agh.’ Sometimes 
a barking cry is preceded by a prolonged squeal, like 
‘ whee-e-e-kiark-kiark-kiark-kiark,’ and is generally uttered 
when they are frightened from the nest.”—(‘ Sketches of 
Bird Life,’ p. 286.) 
Mr. Booth (‘ Rough Notes,’ Part VII.) expresses a convic- 
tion that the farmer, rather than the game-preserver, suffers 
from the attacks of this bird, which, when food is scarce, 
shows a great liking for turnip roots, and makes great 
havoc with newly-sown grain. In the Fern Islands, 
however, in company with the Lesser Black-Backed, it 
destroys great quantities of eggs of the Hider Duck. 
