Birds. 1185 



us mostly in the autumn and winter; Sir C. Sharp adds, that at Hai- 

 tlepool they are "called teasers;" — I conclude from their pursuing 

 other gulls, and harassing them for the sake of the prey they have 

 caught. I have often in September been entertained in observing 

 the modes of attack and pursuit, practised by these bold and preda- 

 cious birds. They breed on the coasts of Scotland, but, as far as I 

 can learn, never in this district. 



Glaucous Gull, Larus glaucus. Here " it is a rare bird, but spe- 

 cimens are generally obtained every winter. Called at Seaton the 

 mallemuck." — J. G. ; although this term, or mallemoke, a Norwegian 

 name, belongs to the fulmar, according to Pennant and Bewick. 

 Most probably some Seaton sailors, who have been in Norway and 

 known that appellation bestowed by the Norwegians on the fulmar, 

 have imported the word, and by mistake given it to this large white 

 gull, which is by no means unlike the fulmar. 



Great Black-backed Gull, Larus mar inns. The wagel, or La- 

 rus naevius, of Bewick, is considered by Mr. Yarrell as this species 

 in its immature state. But, according to Mr. Selby's Catalogue, that 

 bird is assigned to the Larus argentatus. The fact I believe is, that 

 the young of several kinds of gull are termed wagels in different parts 

 of England. Its eggs are delicious eating, and are said to be like 

 those of the plover, with a transparent white, and an orange or dark 

 yellow yolk. 



Herring Gull, Larus argentatus. This is the Larus fuscus of 

 Latham, of my former Catalogue, No. 108, and the herring gull of 

 Pennant, which is a not unfrequent species. 



Common Gull, or Sea Mew, Larus canus. The screaming and 

 squealing noise which most of the gulls make, has very probably 

 given rise to their vulgar name of mews. To mew or mewl is to cry 

 like a cat, or squall as a child, both of which sounds, among their 

 varied, harsh, and loud screams, may be recognized. Some species, 

 too, are even said to laugh ! The concert produced by a vast assem- 

 blage of the different Laridae in autumn or winter, is most discor- 

 dant and deafening ; and no one, who is a stranger to the barer parts 

 of our wild sea-shores in the north, can form any conception of it. In 

 stormy w r eather, and especially in winter, these gulls proceed to 

 marshes and fields far inland. Having lived much close to the 

 Thames, in the Temple, I have frequently observed gulls flying about 

 the river, even in the very centre of London ; they appear quite re- 

 gardless of all the noise and bustle of steamers, and the numerous 

 shipping and craft always sailing up and down. They are useful when 

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