THE ICELAND GULL. 
387 
on the British shores. The month of June seems a late period 
for the Iceland gull to remain in such a comparatively southern 
latitude; and there can hardly be a doubt that it is the same 
species which is seen about Ballantrae every winter, as the 
authority for the statement must evidently know it well from its 
congeners, when he correctly states that it does not breed on 
Ailsa Craig.” 
On the 2nd of April, 1840, the same kind friend (John Sin- 
claire, Esq») brought me from Ballantrae a second specimen, 
which was shot there a few days before that time.' It is in the 
same plumage as the former one, or in that which Mr. Selby 
describes after two general autumnal moultings have been under- 
gone (vol. ii. p. 504). Mr. Sinclaire informs me that when at 
Brodick Castle, in the island of Arran (Frith of Clyde), many 
years ago, he saw about six or eight gulls, which he is certain 
were of this species, and in proof of his correctness gives the 
“circumstantial evidence” that they were almost as tame as 
domestic fowl, and were stationed on a manure heap before a still. 
Although on a very near approach they took wing, they returned 
immediately on the party going out of the way : he was told that 
they* had frequented the place for a long time. 
Faber's very full and interesting account of the Iceland gull, 
in his f Prodromus of the Ornithology of Iceland ' — a work 
difficult to be procured — is judiciously copied by Mr. Yarrell, in 
the third volume of his f British Birds.' 
The Iceland gull is said to be numerous in the high arctic 
regions of both hemispheres. To Iceland, even, it is only a winter 
visitant (Faber). It is in Scotland and England, as well as 
Ireland, a bird of only rare and occasional occurrence. 
2 c 2 
