in some cases, portions of the egg-shells still adhering to
their down.
To convey some idea of the numbers of these Gulls
that nest at Scoulton I condense the following notes by
H. Stevenson, quoted in ' Yarrell,' 4th ed.:—" Two men
are employed to collect three days a week, picking up
every egg they can find, and generally at the rate of
from 1500 to 2000 a day; but when in full laying and
left undisturbed for two clear days, between 3000 and
4000 have been taken in one day. From 10,000 to
20,000 eggs have been obtained in this manner in
different seasons. In 1870 the eggs sold on the spot at
9d. to 1*. a score."
Some years ago I received several of the species alive
from the owner of another celebrated colony in Lincolnshire
; two pairs of these Gulls nested and reared
respectively three and two young in my aviaries at
Lilford. I have met with this species during the winter
months in all parts of the western Mediterranean, but
never found it breeding on any of the shores of that sea.
