BLACK-HEADED GULL. 671 



in Bridlington till after that time, when out of mature plumage ; it 

 is common on the shore. 



This familiar species, sometimes called the Brown-headed 

 Gull, is resident in Yorkshire, where at one time several exten- 

 sive breeding stations existed ; the most important of these 

 have been destroyed by draining and other agricultural im- 

 provements, and there now remain but a few small colonies and 

 scattered, or isolated, nesting sites. The earhest known Gullery 

 is that already referred to, which was visited by Bishop Nichol- 

 son in his journeying to York in 1702, when it would appear 

 that a vast colony, of which no trace now remains, was in exist- 

 ence at Thornton Bridge, near Bedale. At Hornsea Mere, in 

 Holderness, large numbers of Gulls bred on an island,* which 

 was in occupation until about twenty years ago, when they 

 were scared away by the planting of the ground with potatoes. 

 Possibly a stray pair of birds from this place tried to nest 

 at Spurn, where an egg was found in a hollow scratching 

 above high water mark, on 27th July 1883, and forwarded by 

 Mr. P. Loten to Mr. W. Eagle Clarke for identification. 

 Another Gullery was on Strensall Common, near York, which 

 decreased rapidly in the last quarter of the past century, 

 being almost deserted before 1880 ; in that year a few pairs 

 attempted to re-establish themselves ; nests were built and 

 eggs were laid annually until 1884, when about thirty pairs 

 nested, although, owing to the robbery of the eggs, no young 

 were hatched ; the year following drainage operations were 

 commenced, and, partly from this cause, together with its 

 proximity to the City, and the additional fact that the ground 

 has been utilised by the Government for military purposes, 

 the colony has been destroyed, and, although for two or 

 three years afterwards a few pairs visited the place, no more 

 attempts were made at nesting. Riccal and Skipwith Com- 

 mons, about ten miles south of York, formed other interesting 

 breeding resorts of this bird ; some years ago the nests were 

 near the high road leading from Selby to North Duffield ; 

 afterwards the birds changed their quarters to nearer the 



* See Common Tern. 



