lavender-purple. It is a bird of voracious habit, and preys not only upon fish and the smaller water-fowl,

but devours carrion and offal of every kind. A young bird, now in my collection, was killed upwards of a
mile inland, feeding upon the carcass of a dead horse.
the fact that an individual of this species, killed during Captain Ross’s expedition, disgorged a little Auk
when it was struck, and, on dissection, another was found in its stomach.”—J//. Brit. Orn. vol. ii. p. 499.

“ Throughout the western counties of Scotland,” says Mr. Robert Gray, ‘this large Sea-Gull is in general
It is seldom, indeed, found roaming within the circle of the inner

Its swallow is also very capacious, as appears from

less plentiful than on the eastern shores.
islands, but for the most part remains in the vicinity of the Outer Hebrides.
flocks, some seasons passing with only a stray bird or two to represent the migratory
In the winter of 1862-63 considerable numbers were

Nor is it even there a regular

winter visitor im
companies that at other times visit these islands.
seen in North Uist, frequenting chiefly the west side of the island and the Sound of Harris. In this district,
ts of sand and mud at low tides, these flocks generally take up their quarters,

distinguished for large trac
They seldom or never go inland; but when

feeding on stranded fish and other garbage left by the sea.
rough northern storms are blowing the masses of foam over the sands, their usual resting-place, they get
visiting the sands of Benbecula and South Uist, and returning to their

on wing and travel along the shore,
The Glaucous Gull is perhaps more uumerous in the Shetland

headquarters when the weather moderates.
Islands than elsewhere in Scotland. In some seasons, indeed, it may be said to be abundant there, appearing in
very large flocks. Dr, Saxby states that shortly after their arrival the greater number of the old birds entirely
disappear. The species likewise occurs in Orkney ; and southwards of these two groups of islands old birds
are generally met with, although I have at various times seen and shot young birds on the Haddingtonshire
coast. It is not uncommon as a winter visitant to the Cromarty Firth, and from that locality to the coast
of Northumberland it cannot be said to be very rare.

«‘ This bird is associated in my mind with at least one vivid picture of a wild sea. On the iron-bound coast
of Berwickshire, fatal to many a gallant ship, I witnessed some years ago a terrible tempest raging, spreading
destruction and death. Sea and sky were mingled in one dark, drizzling mass, and all else blotted out, save
a foreground of rocks, on which the broken waves were crashing with the noise of artillery, and from which
clouds of spray were rolling landwards like wreaths of smoke from a battle-field. Against the background
of sea and cloud there appeared a Burgomaster Gull and a small band of kinsmen, the snow-white parts of
their plumage appearing like specks on the pitch-like neutral tint, best understood by those who paint the
‘war of elements.’ With a free sweep the splendid birds seemed to rejoice in the tumult beneath, calling
to one another in loud, hoarse shouts, as, after a moment’s suspense, they dashed across the gloom. From
a peaceful-looking Gull they had each become like a storm-demon, hovering at times in the dark cloud, and
presiding over the troubled sea, their very presence forming an essential element in the picture. Such is
their life !”

The Plate represents this bird about three fourths of the natural size.