154 
LARID^. 
The present species inhabits, by preference, the sea- 
coast and the mouths of large rivers, but under peculiar 
circumstances this bird extends its flight very far up 
the rivers, and is consequently more frequently met with 
on lakes and rivers in the interior than any other of its 
family. 
The food of the Herring Gull consists in fish and 
other marine productions, the former of which it takes 
on the wing, and in pursuit of the latter watches 
the receding waves for what the fiood-tide may have 
washed on shore; and this may be the principal reason 
why this bird prefers the shores of the ocean to those of 
other seas. The carcasses of other animals, as well as 
those of whales, are consumed by it, and consequently, 
also, any offal that fishermen or sailors may throw over¬ 
board. 
The flight of the present gull is rather slow, and its 
general action is that of skimming through the air at an 
elevation of from ten to twenty feet above the surface of 
the water, and thus following the course of the shore. On 
perceiving any suitable object, the bird sweeps in an 
arched line downwards, and then pounces upon it; but 
it does not plunge into the water, nor wet itself further than 
its head in the act of catching its prey. 
But the present species appears most to enjoy walking 
about on the sandy beach, looking for and picking up the 
small fry, crabs, young lobsters, worms, &c., that the tide 
has left. 
The breeding-places of this species are either the shelves 
of rocks, or the downs by the sea-side, according to the 
locality. 
The nest is constructed of grasses, in which the female 
