THE COMMON GULL — THE HERRING-GULL. 179 



The Fuscus was there) long the fisherman's guide ; 

 And he, the Great Black-back'd, of Steep Holmes 

 the pride. 



Childe Harold will immortalize this bird as the Sea- Mew ; the 

 following is the first stanza of it l 



" Adieu, adieu ! my native shore 

 Fades o'er the waters blue; 

 The night winds sigh, the breakers roar, 



And shrieks the wild sea-mew. 

 Yon sua that sets upon the sea, 



We follow in his flight ; 

 Farewell awhile to him and thee, 

 My native land ! — good night !" 



The Marinus, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Black 

 and White Gull, or Cobb, weighs between four and five pounds; 

 breadth five feet nine inches; colour white; back and wing 

 coverts dusky black. Inhabits Europe and America. Breeds 

 on the Steep-Holmes in the Bristol Channel ; eggs blackish 

 grey, with dark purple spots. Feeds on fishes and young birds. 



It used some years since to be, and probably now is, a common 

 excursion in the summer season among the fishermen resident 

 near the mouth of the Parret, to row in their flat-bottomed 

 boats to the Steep-Holmes, in quest of gulls' eggs: it was ge- 

 nerally considered a source of pleasure rather than of profit. 

 The adventure is a hazardous one, and can only be safely ac- 

 complished in calm weather. 



The Fuscus, or Herring-Gull, is white; back brown; 

 twenty-three inches long; inhabits Europe, North America, 

 and Asia ; found plentifully on the shores of this country ; 

 feeds on fish, particularly herrings, to the shoals of which 

 fishermen are directed by these birds hovering over and follow- 

 ing them. Eggs three, whitish, spotted with black. In the 

 two first years the young of this and the Less Black-backed Gull 

 are so much alike, that they cannot be ascertained till the ma- 



