have arrived -at rriaftirity," which is feldom in lefs than twd* 

 and often more than three years, and by this means has been 

 able to correct numerous errors that have crept into the 

 works of moft of the preceding writers. 



The prefent fpecies is the moft common of the Gulls on our 

 coafts, and is to be met with in confiderable numbers on moft parts 

 of our mores ; they feed on all kinds of animal matter thrown 

 up by the tide, or difcovered floating on the furface of the 

 ocean; filling up the fame place on the mores of the Tea, as 

 the carrion crow does in the interior of the land, as no fub- 

 flance is too putrid to afford them a meal ; they may be feen 

 in winter affbciating with rooks and crows, fearching for 

 Worms and infe&s frequently at a great diftance from the fea ; 

 the whole genus is invariably gluttonous, frequently taking fo 

 much food as not to be able to fly till they have difgorged part 

 of their repaft, this they readily do upon any fright ; it is not 

 uncommon for them to bring up a large quantity of undigested 

 food when {lightly wounded. 



The neft of the Gull is formed of fea- weed, at the diftance 

 of a few feet from the water, and is moftly placed on a 

 melving rock ; they lay two or three eggs of an olivaceous 

 brown, blotched with red fpots ; they are about the fize of 

 thofe of a common hen. 



This fpecies is fometimes 'eatdn by' perfons reddeht on 'the 

 coaft, and we have heard it defcribed as good food ; previous 

 to its being dre fifed, it is dunned and buried in a cloth for 

 one or two days. 



