J 27 
of all the Gulls which frequent the British 
shores. At the mouths of the larger rivers 
they are seen in numbers picking up the 
animal substances which are cast on shore, 
or come floating down with the ebbing 
tide ; for this kind of food they watch with 
a quick eye ; and it is curious to observe 
how such as are near the breakers will 
mount upon the surface of the water, and 
run splashing towards the summit of the 
wave to catch the object of their pursuit. 
On the approach of storms or tempests 
they may be seen at a considerable dis- 
tance from the coast, and in severe wea- 
ther will follow the plough of the husband- 
man in search of the larvce of the chaffer 
and worms, 
