1902 The Gulls of Tivigmore Warren 201 



sidered trifles in the shape of worms, grubs, and insects 

 which the ruthless share turns up. 



For some time after the arrival of the first-comers the 

 birds are somewhat shy, taking flight at the near approach 

 of strangers to the ponds, more especially when the intruder 

 comes in questionable shape through the trees, instead of 

 advancing in full view across the open. This timidity, 

 however, soon wears off, and the birds, particularly when 

 sitting, exhibit a tameness quite astonishing. Even should 

 they take flight when approached too nearly, it is only 

 necessary to sit down and wait quietly for their speedy 

 return. 



So crowded are the ponds that the nests of the different 

 birds — "pitches" would almost be a better word, since 

 the eggs are laid on the bare bed of reeds — are so close 

 together as to occupy, it might be said, every available inch 

 of space. Indeed so great is the demand for accommodation 

 that, according to Mr Sutton - Nelthorpe, who was kind 

 enough himself to escort the present writer round the gull- 

 ponds, it is by no means unusual to find of a morning a row 

 of eggs stretched along the narrow plank which serves at one 

 spot as a foot-bridge, laid by some luckless late arrivals in 

 this comfortless fashion, for want of room elsewhere. 



The eggs themselves display a remarkable variety in 

 colouring and markings, which is excellently illustrated 

 by a well-selected collection of specimens, taken from the 

 ponds, at Scawby Hall : the series ranging from examples of 

 the ordinary dark mottled eggs to others of a plain and self- 

 coloured appearance. These latter, according to the 

 keepers, are generally immature or unfertile eggs. 



Near neighbour to the gulls of Twigmore, and in fact 

 originally an off-shoot of that stock, is the colony of birds 

 located on Black Rabbit Warren, Scunthorpe, about eight 

 miles away, on the estate of Sir Berkeley Sheffield. Two- 

 and-thirty years ago, it appears, when perhaps the Twigmore 

 ponds were even more crowded than at present, a few 

 adventurous birds, seeking fresh fields and pastures new, 

 happened upon the three or four ponds at Scunthorpe which 

 have since obtained the name of Blackhead Ponds. Here 

 they decided to establish themselves, and five eggs, in the 



