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alike on the grassy summits of precipitous rocks in or near the sea, and on moorland lochs at 

 some distance inland, sometimes even on the highest mountain-ranges. Mr. Sinclair has seen a 

 large colony on Ben Eadden, about 1800 feet above the level of the sea; and its nurseries are 

 often found on desolate moors, especially in the central islands of the Outer Hebrides, where 

 there are no suitable cliffs to occupy. The islets of the Sound of Harris are also frequented 

 during the breeding-season by this bird; and on Islay and Mull it often resorts to islets in 

 freshwater lakes for breeding-purposes. The same remark applies to the species in many parts 

 of Sutherlandshire and Argyleshire. In some of the midland counties this species is frequently 

 observed in great numbers crossing the country from east to west, and often flying at a con- 

 siderable height in the air ; but they have never, so far as I am aware, been seen going in a 

 contrary direction. Occasionally large flocks travel inland in stormy weather and alight in 

 ploughed fields, where they appear to content themselves for a time with what they can pick up 

 in the way of subsistence. I have seen many hundreds at a time resting themselves during a 

 snow-storm, and dozing on one leg for nearly a whole day, huddled together in a mass, and 

 looking very subdued. On being put to flight on such occasions, they would merely flap lazily in 

 circles above the intruder, and return to their roosting-quarters, drawing closely together as 

 before where the snow had been trampled down on their first assemblage. In the beginning of 

 November 1868, I observed about 150 of these Gulls late in the afternoon rising from the land 

 and flying seawards across the links of Dunbar. These birds were quite near enough to be 

 recognized ; and I distinctly saw that the feet of some of them were covered with clay, which had 

 adhered to them when on the ploughed fields, and apparently baffled all their efforts to remove it. 

 As they flew over my head I could seen them vainly trying to shake the dust off their feet; and 

 as they directed their flight seawards, I could not help thinking they might visit some earth- 

 covered rock, and there leave any grain or seeds which might happen to be in the clay, to take 

 root and grow for the future edification or wonderment of some wandering botanist." 



Throughout Scandinavia it is common up to the far north. Mr. Collett writes that it is a 

 common resident all along the Norwegian coast, and large numbers breed between Stavanger 

 and the North Cape. Eastward of Lindesnses the colonies become smaller ; but a few pairs breed 

 far in the southern fiords. In the spring and summer both old and young birds go up the rivers 

 to the freshwater lakes ; and some breed there. They even visit the fell-lakes on the Dovre, 

 Valders, and in Thelemarken, generally in flocks ; and they have been found breeding on the 

 Filefjeld and at Bygdin (Printz). According to Wille a vast number were observed in the 

 spring of 1787 on the Sillejords lake, in Thelemarken. It is met with throughout Sweden, and 

 breeds in most localities along the line of coast. Dr. Ludwig Holtz obtained eggs on Gottland ; 

 and Mr. Meves found it breeding on Oland, where it is common, both on the seashore and in the 

 marshes. To the northward its Scandinavian breeding-quarters extend to the North Cape ; and 

 Pastor Sommerfeldt writes that at the Varanger Fiord it "is commonest during the winter season, 

 but breeds there, nesting on small islands both close to the sea and also far up in the freshwater 

 lakes." In Finland it is one of the commonest species ; and Dresser met with it breeding 

 numerously on the fringe of small islands that skirt the coast, — commoner, however, in the 

 northern than in the southern portion of the country. In Russia, Mr. Sabanaeff informs us, it 

 " is a common species, and breeds in almost the whole of Central and Northern Russia. In the 



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