C O M M O N G U L L.
SEA MEW. *
Cants aittus, LINNAEUS.
Larus—A ravenous sea-bird. Canus—Hoary.
1 i n s Gull is not eo common, compared with other British species,
as its name imports.
In Europe, it is plentiful on the shores of Lapland, Norway, the
Ferroe Islands, Holland, France, Italy, and Spain. In Asia, in Persia
and about the Caspian Sea; and in America, in the northern regions.
I n Yorkshire individuals are shot almost every year in the neighbourhood
of Leeds, in the West-Riding, and a few have occurred at
Barnsley, Ilebdeu-Bridge, York, lluddersfield, and Sheffield; on the
coast they are numerous. In Cornwall, they are common at Peuryn
River and other parts of the shore; so also in Kent and Essex, by
the sides of the Thames, In Norfolk, about Yarmouth and along the
sea-board, commonly; thus too in Lincolnshire, Sussex, Dorsetshire,
and in fact all round the island. Some are seen in Northamptonshire
nearly every winter; the same remark applies to Oxfordshire, as also
to Cambridgeshire. In Derbyshire, they occur occasionally along the
Trent side. In Surrey, near Ciodalmiug, and one at Fair Mile Common,
near Cobham, December 26th., lS^tJ; one also on the River Mole,
near 1 lampion ('ourt.
In Scotland, about St. Abb's Head, in the couuty of Berwick, iu
vast quantities; so too in Sutherlandshire. Mr. Selhy mentions several
breeding stations, namely, on Loch Shin, Loch Laigal, and various
smaller lochs. It is common in Orkney, Shetland, and the Hebrides.
So likewise in Ireland, and also in Wales, as near St. David's.
They frequent the sea-coast, especially near the mouths of rivers,
but in the autumn, winter, and spring wander far inland, to feed on
ploughed and pasture lauds, returning, however, always to the coast
for the night.