BLACK-HEADED GULL.
and the numbers lo be observed in company along the coast-line in summer render il probable, however, that
tbey do not reach maturity lill three or possibly tour years old.
There is little doubt that the two birds shot at Canty Bay in East Lothian in August 1874, and depicted
on Plale I., represent the plumage of the lirst and second autumn. The colours of the soft parts of these two
specimens were as follows:—"The upper and lower mandibles of the juvenile were :lesh-tinfed with a black
point on the upper; legs and feet a pale livid flesh-colour. Both mandibles of the older bird were red, with a
black point, on the upper, and a light red circle round the iris. The legs and feet were also of Ihe same tint of
red as the mandibles.
The adult figured on Plate I I . (lew rapidly past my gunning-punt on the 18th of January lsjsi, about half
a mile at sea in the Channel off Lancing, in West Sussex, and his striking appearance having attracted my
attention, he was knocked down by the shoulder-gun. Tins strangely marked bird exhibits the singular manner
in which the change from white to black on the bead is occasionally efleeted. The upper and lower mandibles
were a dark purple tint, with a tinge of crimson-lake near the base; the circle round the eye was very
conspicuous and of a bright mulberry hue. The legs and feel showed a colouring of dark purple.
COMMON GULL.
I.A1IUS CAXIS.
Tnorcn seldom, if ever, seen gathered into such immense flucks as the Lesser Black-hacked Gull or the Kittiwake,
the Common Gtdl is to be met with at one season or another all round our coast. In most of the southern
and eastern counties with which I am acquainted Ibis species is more numerous in wilder, the stragglers i for
the most part showing various immature stages) that have remained during summer being joined as autumn
approaches by the adults and young birds of the year. For some months their favourite quarters are in the
vicinity or the outlets of the sewers of the fashionable watering-places or about the harbour-mouths or
seaport towns. Here, with swarms of other ravenous sealbwl and at times a noisy party of Grey Crows, the
filth and garbage that floats in flic tideway is eagerly sought after, and many are the contentions that arise over
the more coveted portions. Gathered into large bodies on the adjacent sands, or floating quietly at sea during
the flood, they patiently await the turn of the tide: shortly hefire high water they commence to show signs
of life—lirst one and then another rises on wing, and after hovering for a lime in the direction from which
the anticipated feast will flow, again join the main body'. In severe frosts or when protracted storms
have worn out the birds and rendered them careless of danger, I have frequently watched numbers flitting
round the fishing-boats and vessels moored alongside the quays in the harlwurs of the cast coast porta,
During the terrible easterly gale that broke over the coast of Norfolk early in November is,"2 the Gulls
frequenting the shore near Yarmouth suffered greatly from the severity of the buffeting they had undergone,
large numbers being carried in a helpless condition up the river, while others where driven many miles into
the country.
Common Gulls are frequently to be met with at long distances from the coast ; (luring autumn and winter
they may be seen following the plough, often in company with Books, or picking over any fresh-turned soil.
On the 3rd of April, 1888,1 remarked large numbers (all, with but few exceptious, exhibiting the adult plumage)
scattered over the cultivated laud on the downs near the Dyke hill in Sussex ; they were busily searching
for food, in many instances within a few yards of the road, paying little or no regard to the traffic. Unless
driven in by gales these birds are by no means such regular visitors as might be expected to the Norfolk broads,
the Gulls usually seen in those Hat and marshy districts being the Lesser lllaek-baeked, the lien ing-l lull,
and wandering parties of the 1!lack-headed.
During summer vast numbers of this species may be noticed in various parts of the Highlands frequenting
fhe shallows of the rivers, occasionally wading knee-deep and searching among the stones or dipping down
here and there w hile on wing. Though it is probable thai other prey may fall to their share while seeking for
fooil in such spots, 1 am convinced that the silvery little smelts (the young of the salmon) form almost their
side diet. In the more northern counties I repeatedly remarked that in set eral instances Arctic Skuas resorted
- 1 attssai during s*Ternl wblrm tlmt Itie whole ot ibe eommoticr .noeiru nF Gulth urn represented in lln A<xU frequenting the R„ni. off
Yaramith sad Low t» to ft, the Lewr tltiek-harked mid the Coram™ Gull beuig wmnll} Ibe mort nunieroiu.