BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 435 
in October and November, 1879 ;* but it may usually be 
seen on the Solway throughout the greater part of the year. 
The food of this species consists of Crustacea, moUusca, 
and small fish, but when driven inland by the approach of 
rough weather it may often be seen in company with Rooks, 
feeding with them. Mr. R. Service records in his diary that 
he dissected two Common Gulls in November, 1888, which 
had their crops distended as large as his fist with earth- 
worms. 
I am told that two or three pairs of this species nest at 
Powfoot (Cummertrees), but of this I have no confirmation, 
though it has been known to nest in the Solway area since 
1871.t 
The Common Gull breeds in Scandinavia, north and central 
Russia, and occurs in winter on the waters of Europe down 
to the Mediterranean basin and the Persian Gulf. As regards 
Great Britain, it nests around the coasts of Scotland, and 
on some inland lochs ; less commonly in Ireland, and not 
at all in England, but is weU known all along the British 
coast from autumn to spring. 
THE HERRING-GULL. Larus argentatus, J. F. Gmelin. 
Local name — Cat-Gull. 
A common visitant from autumn to spring. 
The Herring-Gull is a well-known bird on our coast from 
autumn to spring, but is comparatively seldom seen in full 
plumage ; the species is principally a shore-feeder, but is 
occasionally seen far inland, being attracted by any offal 
it may find. In the nesting-season it is very destructive 
to the eggs of other species, and it occasionally attacks 
weakly or new-born lambs. Baited traps set for vermin 
* Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. Olas., 1880, Vol. IV., p. 325. 
Fauna of Lakeland, 1892, p. 428. 
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