HERRING-GULL. 
331 
263. Larus argentatus. Herring-Gull. 
Resident, nesting only in the Isle of Wight. 
This bird breeds plentifully on the Culver, Freshwater 
and Needles Cliffs, and frequently comes inland at all 
seasons of the year, sometimes in considerable numbers. 
It reaches even the northern boundaries of the county in 
summer, and is by far the most common gull throughout 
the year in Hampshire. 
This is, no doubt, the bird referred to by White in his 
Journal of December 19th, 1775, when he notes: — "Ten 
or twelve large gulls sailing high in the air over Combe- 
wood Pond." 
It is curious that Warner does not mention this species 
among the birds in his history of the Island (1795), but 
Albin describes the manner of taking their eggs in his 
" Vectiana,^' about twenty years later. 
Hawker also describes the same process in his " Diary " 
of May 23rd, 1837, when he brought home four young, and 
the " Letters of Rusticus " also give a full and lively 
account of the cliffs in the nesting season. 
When Kelsall lived at East Boldre, in the New Forest, 
he observed that the herring-gulls used to come to 
Hatchett Pond every day during the summer months, 
beginning their visits about the middle of March. 
Munn has noticed that wild birds are frequently attracted 
by those which he keeps in captivity, and will settle with 
them in the water, and on the banks of the stream where 
they are kept. 
Bury mentions an individual which lived no less than 
thirty-six years in captivity. ^ 
* Adams' " History of the Island." 
