298 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS 



colonies on marsh-land, usually where some measure 

 of protection is afforded them. The nests are placed 

 on the ground, and often close together. Just as 

 the Black Tern is a marsh-haunting species in the 

 nesting-time, differing in this respect from the com- 

 moner Terns, which breed on the seashore, so the 

 Black-headed Gull differs in this respect from the 

 cliff-hannting species of Larus which are to be 

 found breeding within sight and sound of the sea, 

 on rocky ledges and precipitous cliffs. 



The breeding haunts of the Black-headed Gull 

 in England are almost too numerous to mention. 

 I have visited colonies in Essex, Kent, Sussex, 

 Hants, Dorset, Norfolk, Lancashire, and Northumber- 

 land, and have heard of several in other counties. 

 See my article on " Gulleries," Field, Feb. 2 and 16, 

 1884, In winter these birds are quite common 

 on the Thames, and fearlessly visit the ornamental 

 waters in the London parks, sojourning there often 

 for many weeks, being well fed by visitors. In 

 Scotland and Ireland, owing doubtless to the wider 

 extent of unreclaimed bog land, there are many 

 more " gulleries " of this kind, and the birds are 

 proportionately more numerous throughout the 

 country at the close of the breeding season. 



LITTLE GULL. Lams minuhts, Pallas. Length, 11 in. ; 

 bill, 1 -25 in. ; wing, 8*75 ; tarsus, 1 in. 



An irregular visitant in autumn and winter; in 

 some years, as in 1866, 1868, and 1869, particularly 

 numerous on the east coast of England. The indivi- 



