ni-ACK-HEADKl) GVIAj. 190 



to the place I have mentioned; — in such numbers do they come, that more 

 than an acre of ground is so thickly covered with their nests, that it requires 

 the utmost caution to avoid crushing the eggs at every step; and yet it is 

 remarkable that this spot is frequented only by this particular species — no 

 other sea-fowl being observable in the neighbourhood of the colony: indeed, 

 the only feathered inhabitants of the heath over which we passed, that we 

 saw, were a brace of Grouse. 



The Gulls generally commence making their nests about the middle of 



the month, (April,) but some do not begin till rather later, and the keeper 



mentioned a very remarkable circumstance connected with those which build 



first. He said that those pairs which commence the earliest in the season 



invariably construct their nests at the north-west corner of the morass, and 



those which delay nidification till the season is more advanced, lay their eggs 



farther to the south-east. Our own observation also confirmed this, at first sight 



improbable assertion; for we found that while the nests at the north-west 



had their full complement of eggs, those in an opposite direction contained 



mostly only one egg, and some none at all; — in the former the eggs had been 



much sat upon, while in the latter incubation had evidently not commenced. 



These birds build but very indifferent nests; they consist only of a few 



dried rushes or straws placed upon the bare ground, on which their eggs are 



laid. These are usually three in number, of a dark green or olive colour, 



marked with spots and blotches of deep brown. The colouring varies very 



much in different specimens, some being of a much lighter tint than others, 



and having few spots or marks on them. In one or two of the nests we 



found as many as four eggs, though it is very seldom that more than three 



are laid. While we were upon the spot the birds continued hovering over 



our heads, making a loud screaming noise, indicative of their displeasure at 



our intrusion; and as soon as we had moved a very few yards away, those 



that were sitting returned to their posts, so anxious were they for the 



preservation of their eggs. 



We were informed that it is about twenty years since they took possession 

 of this place as their summer resort. Towards the end of July, when the 

 young are ready to fly, the birds leave the Moss, and betake themselves to 

 the sea-shore, where they procure their food, which consists principally of 

 insects, 'worms, spawn, fry, and small fishes. During the breeding season, I 

 believe, they exist chiefly upon what they can obtain from the fields. For 

 some miles round they may be seen covering any piece of fresh turned-up 

 land, and often alighting, as I myself observed, within three or four feet of 

 the heels of the ploughman engaged in tilling the ground. It is indeed a 

 very interesting sight to see how actively and gracefully these truly beautiful 

 Gulls run up and down the newly-made furrows, in search of what nature 

 has taught them to regard as food for themselves and their young, Mr. Gardner 

 is annually reclaiming many acres of the moss-land, and he says that after 

 having cut through six or seven feet of peat, in which trees of various species 



