Birds. 45 1 



many are only partially coloured ; by the month of May, the 

 head assumes a deep rich mouse-coloured brown, in some 

 specimens darker than others ; but in no one instance, out of 

 a great number which I have examined, has the head been 

 approaching to black. From the month of April, last year, 

 to August, I procured specimens in every month, and found 

 them invariably of the same rich brown on the head. The 

 following is a description of one killed in the month of 

 July. It had no appearance of being a young bird : — 

 Length 16 in. ; breadth from tip to tip 38J in. ; bill If in., 

 pointed and hard, and of a very rich puce or plum colour, 

 darkest at the base ; the inside of the bill a richer puce, 

 approaching to lake; the head a rich mouse-coloured brown ; 

 irides hazel ; eyelids red ; the eye partially surrounded by a 

 line of white feathers ; the breast pure white (in one specimen 

 it was of a delicate rose colour) ; back and scapulars pale lead 

 colour; belly and tail pure white; wings lead colour, fading 

 into white ; the first two quill-feathers white, edged with 

 black on both margins ; the third, fourth, and fifth feathers 

 black only on the outer margin ; the legs and feet rich puce 

 colour, the webs lighter : weight 8-J oz. I killed this spe- 

 cimen, while it was feeding on the Pulex Cancer, or flea crab, 

 in one of the saltwater ditches which communicate with the 

 sea. In the months of May and June, they are very busy in 

 the pursuit and destruction of the cockchafer. Their note 

 is peculiar, resembling the broken caw of a young rook. 

 About seven miles from me, in the Blackwater river, there is 

 a low swampy island, of fifty acres, where these birds resort 

 to breed. From 10,000 to 12,000 eggs are annually taken 

 thence, and sold at 4<7. a dozen. I last year visited the place 

 at the full time of their breeding, and I found the nests 

 thickly strewed about ; and the eggs laid on a little sea-weed, 

 and seldom more than three in a nest, sometimes four. The 

 egg is of a dirty olive green, spotted with a darker green. 

 The parent birds fly around, and within three or four yards 

 of, those disturbing them. Among the whole mass I saw no 

 black heads : I am of opinion that they never attain that 

 colour. The eggs, when dressed, are eaten cold ; the colour 

 of the yolk is deep orange ; they are very strong, though 

 considered a delicacy by the marsh gourmands. The fat of 

 the bird is of the same deep hue. In the month of Novem- 

 ber they leave this coast, or, at least, never journey inland 

 with the common gull. It is by no means a shy bird, but a 

 very noisy one, and defends itself stoutly when wounded. In 

 the bird figured by Bewick, the head is black, and the white 

 circle of feathers around the eye is wanting ; but the shape 



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