676 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



Though its trivial name seems to indicate that it is common, 

 this Gull is not so abundant as some others of the genus, 

 and the statement made in Allis's day holds good at the 

 present time. On the coast it is fairly plentiful in autumn 

 and winter, both adult and immature birds being met with, 

 and in some seasons it is very numerous, especially in stormy 

 weather, and notably so in 1877 ; 1883, (in both the Spurn 

 and Redcar districts ;) 1888, and 1892. During the prevalence 

 of strong north or north-east gales, from October to January, 

 immense numbers pass along shore on the Cleveland coast, 

 flying head to wind, or with the wind " on the beam," and 

 going in a north-westerly direction ; this passage sometimes 

 continues for three or four days, and in that time many thou- 

 sands of birds go by. The reasons for these movements of 

 Gulls are not thoroughly understood ; ' they are not merely 

 local, and it seems probable that they are migrations on a 

 large scale. With an easterly gale a movement to the south- 

 ward is observed, but the numbers travelling in that direction 

 are comparatively few, and these may be local birds changing 

 their quarters. 



In the spring the Common Gull leaves the Yorkshire 

 coast for its nesting stations, a few immature birds only 

 remaining during the summer in the river estuaries. The 

 sole instance of the occurrence of an adult example at that 

 period which has come to my notice, was at Redcar on 19th 

 July 1903, when I found one washed ashore on the beach. 

 A statement by Mr. Tinkler, that this species bred in Arken- 

 garthdale is not correct, the bird referred to being the Black- 

 headed Gull (cf. Zool. 1884, pp. 139, 196). 



In the Wold district this Gull is frequently seen on the 

 ploughed land, where it follows the husbandman in his farming 

 operations, returning to the coast at nightfall in regular 

 formation like a flock of Geese ; every spring, until the breeding 

 season arrives, adult birds congregate on the public common 

 at Beverley. It also occasionally occurs at a distance from 

 tidal waters, generally on inland lakes or reservoirs ; Mr. 

 \\'. Eagle Clarke reported two at Fewston in June 1884 ; 

 the individuals thus observed are immature birds, and, 



