Glaucous Gull.
Larus glaums, Brünn. Orn. Bor., p. 44.
— glacialis, Benicken.
— gigante us, Benicken.
— consul, Boie, Wiedetn. Zool. Mag., tom. i. p. 757.
Leucus glaucus, Kaup, Naturi. Syst., p, 86.
T he fine bird figured on the accompanying Plate is an inhabitant o f the northern regions generally. In
Greenland, Arctic America, »**4 Siberia this silvery-white Gull finds a natural home; in such countries
it breeds and rears its you;-. - feeding them on such animal substances as may come to hand. Like its
European prototype the GfctMt Btouck-lmcked Gull (Larus marimui), it is, to all intents, a scavenger, feeding
on any garbage thrown up fcf he sea, to which weakly birds are often added. Like many other Arctic
birds the Glaucous GwH «««ders to more southern countries during the severity o f winter, the young
birds o f the year proceeding further south and in greater numbers than the adults; hence it is that we
more frequently see the former in their immature plumage in the British seas than the adults in their full
livery. Although somewhat irregular in its visits, it certainly does appear in our latitudes every year, even
in the adult garb; it therefore cannot he considered rare, while in its youthful dress it may be regarded as
among those that are common. To instance the occurrences and to particularize where the Glaucous Gull
has been procured on our coasts would be superfluous. Collectors wishing to procure examples may gratify
their desire by visiting the great London markets during the autumnal months. A hundred to one, however,
of the specimens then found there are but in the youthful of speckled plumage. If'fully adult examples be
desired, they must be sought for in the north o f Scotland, the Orkneys, and Hebrides, where the the bird in its
most silvery garb may be seen battling with the gale, or huoyantly sailing in from the black storm-clouds o f those
inhospitable regions. Many o f our northern brethren have given spirited descriptions o f this sprite o f the
ocean, describing its disposition, its mode o f flight, its wild voice, daring habits, & c.; and Yarrell, Selby, and
other English authors have made extracts from their writings to enrich their respective works; and I shall
run the risk o f being considered a pirate in following in their wake; but I shall at the same time acknowledge
whence my information is obtained.
The {ate Mr. Selby, in his history of this Gull, 'has embodied remarks from several other persons; and I
shaft commence by extracting a passage from this very accurate observer, and follow it by a more lengthy
one by Mr. Robert Gray, a living author of great acumen, as shown by his recently published work the
‘ Birds o f the West o f Scotland,’ in which the Glaucous Gull, for which he evidently wishes the trivial name
of Burgomaster” to he retained, is noticed very folly.
** Tfo* large and powerful species,” says Selby, “ was first noticed as a winter visitant in Shetland in 1809
by Laurence E*lm*mstoo, Esq., who afterwards published an interesting account o f its habits and distinguishing
characters in the fourth volume o f the memoirs o f the Wernerian Society, to which paper, from its length,
I beg to refer mv readers. Subsequent observation has proved it to be not uncommon in that remote
district, both in the immature and perfect state, during the winter; hut it regularly migrates on the advance
o f spring to higher northern latitudes for the purpose o f reproduction. It occasionally extends its equatorial
flight as'far to the southward m the Northumbrian coast, where several have at different times come under
my inspection in a recent state. These, with the exception of one in the adult winter plumage (now in my
collection), have all been young fords, some, from their spotted and brown appearance, the young o f the
year, others, where the markings had become fainter, and the ground of a purer white, such as had
undergone one or perhaps two autumnal moultings. The Glaucous Gull is pronounced by Tetnminck to he
the largest of the tribe ; but my own measurements o f several individuals, with the testimony o f Captain
Sabine and other writers who have described the species, show that its average dimensions in length and
extent o f wing are inferior to those o f the Great Black-backed .Gull ( Larus marinus): Its form is perhaps
thicker and more compact; and its weight may sometimes exceed that o f the other, though I possess a
specimen o f the latter bird which weighed two ounces more than any o f the Glaucous Gulls that have .come
under my observation. By Dr. Richardson it is described as a common species during the summer, in
Greenland, Baffin’s Bay, and the Polar seas, where it breeds upon the precipitous rocks which line those
coasts. Its eggs are stated to be o f a pale purplish grey, with scattered spots o f umber-brown and subdued