ON THE FLIGHT OF GULLS. 307 



Mr. Dale may truly be said to be the great patron of Entomology in Eng- 

 land ; his fortune enables him to visit all parts of the kingdom, with the view of 

 procuring the richest treasures, and I have known many instances of his gene- 

 rosity being liberally exercised towards entomologists in distress. 



I have been induced to draw the attention of your readers generally, but more 

 particularly those who take an interest in the science of Entomology, to the ex- 

 tensive and richly-stored cabinets of Mr. Dale, feeling assured that his kindness 

 and liberality will at all times prompt him to render assistance to the ento- 

 mologist in the prosecution of his studies, by giving every facility for an inspec- 

 tion of his admirably-arranged collection. 

 Lendal, York, 1836. 



ON THE FLIGHT OF GULLS. 

 By Mr. W. H. Benshed. 



It is the custom with many farmers in the neighbourhood of Tonbridge, 

 Yalding, and several other places in their vicinity, to manure their land with 

 Sprats, which are brought from the sea in barges. In a few days the Gulls 

 visit the fields, and it is necessary to have persons constantly upon the spot, to 

 drive them off, or the greater part of the fish would be carried away. The course 

 of their flight is about N. E., and they pass regularly in parties from the sea in 

 the morning, and back again in the evening, going nearly over Maidstone in 

 their passage to and from their food. Their discovering the fish at so great a dis- 

 tance is very remarkable. Can it be by their great powers of smelling ? The 

 fish soon putrify, and the effluvium is very great ; but I have generally supposed 

 that a few individuals first follow the course of the river, and, having ascertained 

 the spot where the fish are deposited, they afterwards make a short cut of the 

 distance to the sea. It is very amusing to watch their moming and evening 

 flight, as they vary their plans, according to the wind and weather. If they 

 have a strong head- wind to contend with, they separate and wheel about, beat- 

 ing upwards, and occasionally sweeping downwards to within a few feet of the 

 earth, then, mounting on a sudden gust, seem to hang poised in the air, but, with 

 a slight quivering motion of the wings, they again dash forward. In fine calm 

 weather they fly like the first figure on the next page, and I was once particularly 

 struck with a manoeuvre of these birds. It was on a still afternoon in December, 

 the clouds were remarkably high, and 



