126 
LARID.K. 
NATATORES. 
LARIDJE. 
PLATE CCCII. 
PEWIT GULL. 
LARUS RIDIBUNDUS. 
The Pewit Gull is one of the most numerous of the gull 
species on the coast of Great Britain during the winter 
months, retiring to lakes and marshes of the interior in the 
spring of the year for the purpose of breeding; at which 
period it frequents the most reedy and marshy fens, and the 
margin of waters of all descriptions. The geographical dis¬ 
tribution of this species extends over the northern half of our 
globe, but it is remarkable that it does not range so far 
north in Europe as Iceland, Norway, and northern Sweden ; 
while in America it is commonly found in Greenland, Davis’ 
Straits, and Baffin’s Bay ; in Asia it is frequent in the Ural 
districts, and also in Syria and Arabia; in Africa it inhabits 
most of the northern parts, particularly Egypt. 
In almost every country of Europe the Pewit Gull is the 
most numerous of the gull species, frequenting the sea-shores 
and mouths of large rivers during the winter, and the lakes, 
marshes, rivers and ponds in the spring and summer months. 
We retain for this bird the name of Pewit Gull, one of 
