THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
383 
ducks, that feed in the tide at Rough Island, and domestic fowl, 
when at a distance from the house, take wing homeward when the 
Larus marinus appears in sight, though with gulls from the L. 
canus, down in size, they feed in company.* 
Larne Lough, December 1846. — In the mornings here, a few of 
the great black-backed gulls usually go over the lough, taking 
a survey for dead or wounded wigeon, &c. Of seven of these 
birds killed or wounded at a shot from a swivel- gun, one was 
carried off by a L. marinus, and two nearly eaten by grey crows, 
by the time (rather longer than usual) that the fowler reached 
the spot. In another instance this month, a wigeon was seen to 
escape from one of these gulls by diving very frequently ; — when- 
ever a stoop was made at it on the surface of the water. The 
best guide that the fowlers have here to their wounded birds is 
this gull, and it is a common remark — “ There's the black-backs, 
we'll see if there's any wmunded birds." The chase of a wigeon 
by one of these gulls was so long and close throughout, that it 
w r as considered by the spectator equal to any he had ever seen by 
a hawk, though there were certainly fewer turnings. One of these 
adult gulls was observed here to fly over a flock of about a 
dozen brent geese on the water. They arose, and the gull pursued 
them fiercely for some time, but without effect, as they were 
able to outstrip it in flight. The gull was very near them more 
than once, but the geese escaped, by suddenly wheeling to either 
side more rapidly than it could do. My informant had never 
seen brent geese, unless wounded, pursued by this gull before. 
Wigeon being laid out in an island of this lough to tempt 
these gulls within shot, while the fowler lay in wait, brought them 
to the place, though not within gun-shot, for they espied ) their 
enemy. The soaring of several of them — occasionally three at a 
time — directly above him, circling about, and turning their heads 
gracefully to look around, was described as a most interesting 
sight, while, all being adult, their plumage, viewed from the 
ground, appeared wholly of a snowy tint. 
* Mr. Darragh, 1848. 
