268 THE BIRDS OP SUSSEX. 



owing to a misapprehension on the part of Montagu and his 

 contemporaries. 



Rhodostethia rosea. — Respecting the so-called Ross's Rosy 

 Gull, recorded by Mr. EUman (' Zoologist/ p. 3388), the 

 specimen was shown to me, and I told him that it was 

 merely an unusually rosy example of L. ridibundus ; but as 

 he was not satisfied, I, to satisfy him, took it to the British 

 Museum, thinking to compare it with others. There was, 

 however, no specimen of Ross's Gull there, but Dr. John 

 Edward Gray quite agreed with me that it was L. ridi- 

 bundus.] 



COMMON GULL. , 



Larus canus. 



Though called the Common Gull, it is not nearly so abundant 

 as the Black-headed Gull, but from autumn to spring it may 

 be found along the coast, more particularly about the harbours, 

 where it may be seen picking up the floating refuse among 

 the shipping. It also follows the plough, like L. ridibundus, 

 and feeds on similar substances. In confinement it may be 

 kept in good condition on maize, barley, or wheat. In 

 heavy gales it is sometimes driven far inland. Yarrell 

 describes the nest as large, whether on marsh or rock, and 

 constructed of sea-weeds, heather, grass, and sea-pink. On 

 some of the Scotch lakes I have observed it perching on 

 trees. 



