2 



GULL. 



and the Iceland Gull. The bird represented in 

 the accompanying figure is the Great Black- 

 backed Gull (Larus marinus), which is tolerably 

 frequent on our coasts, but not so often seen as 

 the Common Gull, nor does it form such large 

 societies as those in which its more sociable 

 relations love to congregate. 



Why the word gull " should be employed to 

 express stupidity I cannot at all comprehend, 

 for the gulls are very knowing birds indeed, and 

 difficult to be deceived. If a piece of bread or 

 biscuit be thrown from a boat, it remains but a 

 very short time on the surface of the water before 

 it is carried off by a gull, although previously 

 not a bird was visible. But if a number of gulls 

 are flying about, and a piece of paper or white 

 w^ood be thrown into the water, there is not a 

 gull who will even stoop towards it, although to 

 the human eye the bread and the paper appear 

 identical. The cry of the gull is very curious, 

 being a kind of mixture of a wail, or scream, 

 and a laugh, and on a dark stormy day adds 

 wonderfully to the spirit of the scene. Its flight 

 is peculiarly quiet, combining great power of wing 

 with easy elegance of motion. It is a very bold 

 bird, and for many miles will follow boats so 

 closely that the very sparkle of its eyes is plainly 



