BIRDS 



264. Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus ficscus, 



Linn. 

 Although this gull is a resident throughout 

 the year on some parts of the Devonshire 

 coasts it is never numerous, and usually keeps 

 to the sea-clifFs and salt water. It is most 

 frequently seen on the south coast in winter 

 and spring after stormy weather, when some 

 enter the estuaries, sometimes penetrating 

 far inland and feeding in water meadows. It 

 is a spring visitor to Plymouth Sound, ap- 

 pearing usually at the end of March, and 

 keeping in pairs. Adults leave the Plymouth 

 harbours by I May, but immature non- 

 breeding birds are seen in flocks as late as 

 June. The breeding birds return early in 

 August with their young. Flocks are also 

 seen at that time off the coast of north 

 Devon. Small numbers breed on the cliffs 

 in the neighbourhood of Lynmouth, and a 

 few pairs on Lundy Island. Adults in pairs 

 are seen at breeding time about the south 

 coast between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail, 

 where there are suitable grassy slopes for 

 them to nest upon. 



265. Great Black-backed Gull. Larus mar- 



inus, Linn. 

 Locally, Saddle-back (Exe),Cobb (N. Devon). 

 Partially a resident, some few pairs breed- 

 ing on Lundy Island, and it is said to have 

 formerly nested on the difis at Bolt Head. 

 It is principally a winter visitor to our south 

 coast and estuaries, appearing after storms or 

 during severe weather, singly or in pairs. 

 On the north coast a few are seen all the 

 year round. 



266. Glaucous Gull. Larus glaucus, O. 



Fabricius. 

 An occasional winter visitor to the har- 

 bours of the south coast from January to 

 March, rarely to April, or later. After severe 

 gales it is sometimes numerous in Plymouth 

 Sound, as in the early months of 1872 and 

 1873. The specimens obtained are usually 

 immature, but adults are not very rare. One 

 in winter plumage occurred at Exmouth in 

 February 1903. It has been met with twice 

 only on the north coast. 



267. Iceland Gull. Larus leucopterus, Faber. 

 Examples of this species occur occasionally 



in Plymouth Sound and in Torbay, from 

 October to February, sometimes lingering to 

 April and even May. It was especially 

 numerous in the winter of 1874-5. Those 

 obtained are usually immature birds ; adults 

 are very rare. Since 1855 it has become a 



more frequent visitor to Plymouth Sound than 

 previously. 



268. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla (Linn.) 



Locally, Racket, or Hacklet Gull, Tarrock 

 (young), Petrel. 



Breeds in large numbers on Lundy Island, 

 where it is a summer visitor. On the south 

 coast it is most numerous in autumn and 

 winter, appearing in large flocks in October 

 and November, especially when sprats are on 

 the coast. It leaves Plymouth Sound at the 

 end of February. In 1873 the late Lord 

 Lilford found a pair with young, nearly full 

 fledged, on the Cod Rock off Berry Head, and 

 Dr. A. Tucker of Ashburton states (MS. notes) 

 that ' it used to breed in abundance on the 

 Orestone, near Torbay,' but as he says the 

 eggs were generally four and sometimes five, 

 and that no nest was made, there seems to be 

 some doubt as to whether it was this gull that 

 laid them, as the kittiwake only lays two or 

 three eggs, and makes a large nest. The kitti- 

 wake is an oceanic species and keeps out at 

 sea, only frequenting our estuaries in stormy 

 weather when it is in a starving condition. 

 Great numbers are thrown up dead on the 

 seashore after heavy gales, and some are often 

 driven far inland. 



269. Ivory Gull. Pagophila eburnea (Phipps) 

 The only Devonshire example known was 



shot when in an exhausted state at Livermead 

 near Torquay on 18 January 1853. It is 

 in nearly adult plumage, and is preserved in 

 the Torquay Museum. 



270. Great Skua. Megakstris catarrhactes 



(Linn.) 

 Locally, Tom Harry, Old Hen. 

 This powerful species of parasitic gull is 

 rare on the Devonshire coasts, as it seldom 

 approaches the shore or enters the estuaries. 

 When obtained the examples are usually in 

 an exhausted condition, and have been some- 

 times driven far inland by severe gales and 

 found dead in the fields. Mr. Eagle Clarke 

 observed some great skuas near Eddystone 

 Lighthouse in September and October 1901, 

 and it is probably not uncommon in the 

 Channel in autumn, winter and spring. It 

 sometimes accompanies fishing boats on the 

 fishing grounds, plundering the gulls congre- 

 gating around them of such fishes as they may 

 chance to pick up. 



271. Pomatorhine Skua. Stercorarius pomato- 



rhinus (Temminck) 

 Locally, Irish Lord, Lords and Captains, Tom 

 Harry, Boatswain Gull. 



A passing visitor in spring and autumn, 



331 



