4 
COMMON GULL. 
that ventures near their hreecling-quarters, I witnessed an amusing scene at Loch Inver, in Sutherland, one 
evening in June 1877. Several pairs of Gulls frequent the lonely rock-hound coast to the south-west of the 
Loch during summer ; one nest, however, was placed just above the wash of the tide, hut a short distance from 
the village. IVhile watching the two old birds fishing along a sandy hay in the immediate vicinity of the 
low-lying ridge on which their young Avere located 1 noticed a Long-eared Owl flap slowly towards the 
water. Evidently disturbed from its shelter in the pine-Avoods before the accustomed hour, dazzled by the 
light and apparently at a loss Avhich AA-^ay to turn, its uncertain and AvaA'ering flight speedily attracted attention. 
Instantly the male Gull Avith loud screams dashed after the intruder and buffeting the bewildered bird repeatedly 
forced it out to sea ; roused by the outcry, a fresh contingent of Gulls shortly arrived and at once joined in the 
attack with the greatest fury. The OavI, after liUAung been driven over the centre of the loch, at length rose 
high in the air, folloAved by a couple of the most inveterate of its pursuers, and not till it had disappeared 
from vicAV among the hills to the north did the Gulls return to their quarters and Avas peace reestablished. On 
no other occasion have I seen an OaaT rise to such an altitude ; at one time it AAdieeled round in large circles at 
the height of at least three hundred feet. 
The nestling, immature, a feAV of the intermediate, and the adult plumages of this species have been 
described ; the Avriters, however, have failed to state Iioav many years elapse before the perfect mature dress 
is assumed. I never kept the Common Gull in captivity for any length of time, and consequently have been 
unable to folloAV all its changes ; but the bird in all probability is not under three or four years of age 
before it pairs and nests. Under date of August 1st, 1873, my notes contain the descrij)tion of a Common Gull 
shot on Ereydon mudflats which I should judge to he just over tAvo years old:— “ Head and neck Avliite, slightly 
speckled AAuth grey ; back clear blue ; Avings blue, intermixed Avith hroAvn ; tail AAdiite Avith a black bar; iris 
hroAvn ; beak a pale blue-green, hroAvn at the point ; legs and feet pale blue-green.” 
Under A^arious titles this species is mentioned by different Avriters; one name made use of, “ the Green-hilled 
Gull,” is perfectly correct as to the bird in the adult state, though the author omits to draAV attention to the 
fact that, Avhile immature, the hill is flesh-tinted Avith a dark horn-colour toAvards the point, which, again, is 
lighter. Bewick, Avhen giA'ing a description of the Munter Gull [Larus hyhernus, Linn.), evidently neither 
more nor less than one of the immature stages of Larus ccmiis, hestoAvs on the species the quaint apj)ellation 
of “ Winter MeAv ” or “ Coddy Moddy.” 
