PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
101 
of the species comprised in the Laridse at their breeding haunts; amongst these I 
may mention the great and lesser black-backed gulls, the herring gulls, common 
gull, and kittiwake. Widely differing in their habits with the great and lesser 
black-backed gulls, we find the bustle and ceaseless activity of the smaller species 
replaced with a sedateness and dignity consistent with their appearance. Flying 
sedately from a crag in the neighbourhood of the nest, they employ themselves in 
sailing leisurely through the air, often at an immense height; at times their loud 
hoarse cackle comes distinctly from above, and is at once answered by a continuous 
kleeking or yelping note from their partner on the nest. Frequently we observe 
single birds rise from the rocks, and fly in a direct line seaward for an immense dis¬ 
tance and then quietly settle down upon the water. Occasionally we see pairs rest¬ 
ing on the water in the vicinity of the rocks, the tail being held so high, from the 
peculiar buoyancy of the bird, that often at a distance it is difficult to determine 
which is the bead and which the tail. When flying from the sea, the great black- 
backed gull never hesitates passing through a flock of terns or herring-gulls, a 
proceeding which the lesser black-back appears to be timid of, as it rises and soars 
over them, or swerves sideways to escape them. Retired in habits as the great 
black-backed gull appears to be, the lesser species is yet more so, as on one occasion 
I saw a rook (Corvus frugilegus) in a ploughed field walk towards a gull of this 
species in a manner that seemed to at once remind the intruder that he had better 
seek his proper pelagian territory ; the decisive action of the rook was sufficient for 
the gull, as he at once took wing, and sought his homestead amid the cliffs. With 
the herring, common, and kittiwake gulls there is considerable similarity in their 
habits. More sociable than the other two species, these birds unite in flocks and fly 
to and from their nests together, fish in company, and are unanimous in the one outcry 
when disturbed. Of the three species, the herring-gull appears to possess the most 
acute sense of hearing, as I have seen a few birds rise from their nests and fly 
steadily seaward; by degrees the numbers increase, until the nests are completely 
deserted, and then, as it were, supposing, from the absence of their larger brethren, 
that they were more profitably engaged elsewhere, the other species fly off to join 
the flock. During the breeding season the herring-gull possesses a habit very 
similar to the rook—diving or falling through the air, and turning over several times 
in its descent. This is frequently performed by several birds at the one time, and is 
accompanied by their peculiar laughing cry. The presence of raptorial birds does 
not seem to occasion these birds the terror that we see manifested by others, as the 
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) will frequently glide past a flock without dis¬ 
turbing them from their avocation, or the least outcry being raised against him. To 
one not versed in their habits, the appearance of the peregrine at times would sug¬ 
gest different conclusions, as this falcon chooses some commanding position along 
the precipice as a perching place, where, for hours, he will maintain the same posi¬ 
tion, with the head inclined towards the rocks, as if appearing to take an exceeding 
interest in the movements of the gulls drifting upon the wind below him like so many 
snow-white feathers. This habit of the peregrine is, however, the mere listlessness 
of repose, and is generally indulged in after repletion. A single common gull or 
kittiwake, flying along the face of the precipice, invariably stoops downwards, or 
otherwise avoids the vicinity of its suspicious foe. Familiar as ornithologists may 
be with the appearance of the breeding haunts of the Laridse, as observed in the full 
glare of sunshine, there is yet another view possessing the most engrossing interest— 
the same haunts observed at night-time, when we see the gulls appear like so many 
snow-white ribbons wound round the rocks. The gigantic masses of shade flung by 
the rock during moonlight, and the spectral forms of the gulls wheeling upward 
from their nests and again settling with their usual clamour. At times the cormo¬ 
rants join their hoarse guttural croaking, whilst the booming of the sea appears more 
audible and more solemn in the silence of the night. Fearing that I am occupying 
too much of your valuable evening, I will hastily conclude with a few observations 
respecting the probability of the masked gull (Larus capistratus) and Bonaparte’s 
gull (Larus Bonapartii) being confounded with varieties of the black-headed gull 
(L. ridibundus). Without presuming upon a subject which is difficult to decide 
without a large number of specimens, it is to be remembered what confusion the 
Laridse were the subject of until the last few years, when critical examination and 
VOL. II. i 
