File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14568797568).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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e whitemargins to the inner webs of the two outer primaries. THE LITTLE GULL Larus minutus, Pallas This species, which is the smallest of our Gulls, isan irregular autumn visitor to our shores. It breeds inNorthern Eussia and possibly on some of the islands of theBaltic, migrating in winter to the Black Sea and Mediter-ranean. In summer the head and neck are black; mantle grey,primaries grey edged with white, rest of plumage whiteexcept the underside of the wing, which is black and formsa distinctive characteristic in the adult. Length 11 in.;wins 8*75 in. THE BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus, Linnaeus The Black-headed Gull is an extremely abundant speciesthroughout the United Kingdom at all times of the year. Insummer it resorts to various inland marshes and bogs, whereit nests in immense colonies, some of which have been inuse for centuries. In autumn and winter it is found allalong the coast and up tidal rivers, a great many coming to 360 BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus Summer
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The Black-headed Gull London, where they are extremely tame and show greatagility in catching bread and other morsels of food thrownto them by pedestrians. The bird is practically omnivorous.When inland it follows the plough and feeds largely onworms and beetle grubs which are thus laid bare; but onthe seashore, fish, Crustacea, marine insects, and garbage aregreedily devoured. The nests are placed in a very wet and boggy place,surrounded, if possible, by water, but small ponds or tarnsin marshy land are chosen in preference to large sheets ofwater. The nest is a large untidy heap of weeds andsticks. Four eggs, which are greenish, spotted and blotchedwith various shades of brown, form the usual clutch. Theyoung hatch after about three weeks incubation, and arecovered with pale brown down mottled with black. Theyleave the nest when two or three days old, but for a weekor ten days at least are entirely dependent on their parentsfor food; after that, however, though still fed by theirpar

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