LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.
LARUS FUSCUS, Linn.
Lams fuscus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 225 (1766) ; Naum. x. p. 419;
Maca. v. p. 538; Heivitson, ii. p. 496; Yarr. ed. 4, hi.
p. 624; Dresser, viii. p. 421.
Goéland <) pieds jaunes, French ; Herim/s-Move, German ;
Gaviota de Mar, Spanish.
This Gull is abundant in many parts of our Islands,
especially in Scotland ; but in the English Channel and
along the whole line of our south coast it is very much
less common than the Herring-Gull. In general habits
this Gull much resembles the bird last-named, but
although it nests in large numbers in certain localities
on the ledges of cliffs, it is more frequently to be found
breeding in colonies on flat marshes and moor-lands
than that species.
The Lesser Black-back is a terrible enemy to the
eggs and young of all ground-breeding birds. I was
informed by the game-keepers on a shooting that I
rented for many years in Inverness-shire, at a considerable
distance from the sea, that large numbers of these Gulls,
for the most part in immature plumage, appeared regu-