ICELAKD GULL. 
179 
bays ; or the ocean, a few miles off the land, where it is 
often found assiduously attending the fishing-boats, to pick 
up any offals that may be thrown overboard; and it is 
often taken by a line and hook baited with fish, when en- 
gaged in this pursuit. 
It is greedy and voracious to a proverb ; and when al- 
lured by carrion, which seems to be its favourite food, be^ 
comes comparatively indifferent to danger. It then quits 
the ocean and the headlands, enters the bays, and boldly 
ventures inlands 
Generally speaking, it is rare ; and 1 have hardly abovfe 
once seen more than three or four individuals at one time. 
Occasionally a single bird may be met with, attending a 
large flock of its congeners, and feeding along with them. 
Upon these occasions its pecuharity of appearance is very 
striking. 
Its usual deportment is grave and silent, exhibiting little 
of the characteristic vivacity or inquisitiveness of many of 
its tribe, and it is roused to exertion chiefly by a sense of 
danger, or the cravings of hunger. 
When it flies, it extends its wings more than the other 
species of Gullj and its flight is also more buoyant. 
And when not in quest of food, it is of a reserved disposi- 
tion, and seldom comes within the range of a fowling-piece, 
but soars at a respectful distance, uttering, at intervals^ a 
hoarse scream, of a sound quite peculiar to itself. 
It exhibits none of that remarkable instinct so predomi- 
nant in many species of the genus, which prompts them 
frequently, at the hazard of their own lives, to warn other 
, animals of the vicinity of the sportsman ; but when once 
alarmed, it commonly flies off. 
Independently of considering this bird as a new species, 
I had all along been induced to regard it as in an imperfect 
stage of plumage, having observed a considerable diversity 
M 2 
