HERRING-GULL
LARUS ARG ENTA TUS, J. F. Gmelin.
Larus argentatus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 600 (1788) ; Naum.
x. p. 379 ; Macg. v. p. 544 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 499 ; Yarr.
ed. 4, iii. p. 618; Dresser, viii. p. 399.
Goéland argenté, French ; Silber-Move, German ; Gaviota
de Mar, Gaivota grande, Spanish.
This is by far the most common cliff-breeding
species of Gull in England, and is also extremely
abundant in all suitable localities in Scotland and
Ireland. I do not think that any spot could be named
on the coast of England where a Herring-Gull might
not be seen on any given day in the year ; and in
rough weather, or after the subsidence of heavy floods,
it visits our river-valleys to very considerable distances
inland. In the district of Northamptonshire
with which I am best acquainted we have an annual
irregular passage of this species from N.E. to S.W.
in August and the early part of September ; but at
these seasons the Gulls generally keep at a great height
