BLACK-HEADED GULL 435 



they still persist in holding that particular breeding 

 place. After the breeding season they become spread 

 over the land, especially on that part under the plough. 



In Mr. W. H. Power's Birds Obseraecl at Rainham, 

 1865, he writes: "These Gulls left this year for their 

 breeding grounds about the end of February ; a few 

 had returned by July 1 ; these were mostly adult birds, 

 still retaining the brown head. By far the greater 

 number did not make their appearance until the end of 

 July and beginning of August ; at this time they collect 

 into flocks, which consist chiefly of birds of the year, 

 a few old ones only (and these without the brown head), 

 to be found among them. This species, which is by far 

 the most common about the creeks, continues in the 

 neighbourhood during the whole winter, occasionally 

 visiting the "sprat-fields" on the cultivated land, where, 

 in company with the Hooded Crow, it enjoys a most 

 savoury banquet. It is astonishing how correctly they 

 time themselves in their visits inland, generally leaving 

 the creeks as soon as the rising tide has covered the 

 mud-banks ; from this time till the turn of the tide 

 not a Gull is, as a rule, to be seen ; but no sooner 

 does the tide begin to ebb than they reappear, first in 

 ones and twos, then in detached parties, and immediately 

 commence beating over and settling on the mud-flats, 

 now covered by only an inch or two of water." 



Mr. F. D. Power, writing from Kainham in 1868, 

 says : " September 29 : My brother killed two splendid 

 adult birds, both having, in addition to the roseate breast, 

 a most beautiful rosy-pink hue on the four outer quills 

 of each wing, most marked on the shafts. Specimens 

 with roseate breasts we have not infrequently met with 

 liere in winter, but until now had not come across any 



