598 LARID^. 



in the face of any one who approaches and dwells upon the 

 haunts of their young. In reply to inquiries, Sir Charles 

 Anderson informs the Editor that the uumher of birds has 

 increased, owing to protection from disturbance, and an over- 

 flow colony is now established on Sir R. Sheffield's property, 

 a few miles off. 



In Yorkshire there is a ' gullery ' on Thorne Waste, and 

 a small one on Strensall Common, an ancient haunt to which 

 they returned in 1881 ; but the large breeding-place at 

 Hornsea Mere, in Holderness, has been broken up by 

 drainage. In Northumberland there are still colonies at 

 Harbottle Tarn ; at Hallypike Lough ; at Sweethope ; and 

 at Pallinsburn, the latter being the ancient seat of the Askew 

 family, where owing to protection the species is as abundant 

 as ever ; and detachments have established themselves at 

 Dunse Castle, and at Paston Lake, near Yetholm, across the 

 Border. On the western side Mr. T, Duckworth informs the 

 Editor that there are ' gulleries ' on Bowness Moss, Solway- 

 flow, Wedholm-flow, Bolton Moss, Bavenglass, and several 

 other places. Passing southwards there was until about 

 eight years ago a colony on Pilling Moss, near Morecambe 

 Bay in Lancashire, and half a century ago Gulls were nest- 

 ing on the present site of the town of Fleetwood. Across 

 the Bay is another and well-known ' gullery ' on Walney 

 Island ; and there are colonies at Winmarleigh, and on a 

 small tarn upon the Bleasdale Fells. 



In Staffordshire there is, or was, a famous colony described 

 by Willughby (Ornithology, 1678, p. 347), who refers to the 

 bird as " the Pewit or Black-cap, called in some places the 

 Sea Crow, and Mire Crow," and thus describes the practice 

 of fattening it for the table: — "When they have taken 

 them, they feed them on the entrails of beasts ; and when 

 they are fat, sell them for fourpence or fivepence apiece.* 



* Our ancestors appear to have been rather partial to strong-flavoured food. 

 Thus the Dr. Thomas Muffet, in his " Health's Improvement," already quoted on 

 several occasions, says : — "White Gulls, Grey Gulls, and Black Gulls (commonly 

 termed by the name of ' Plungers ' and ' Water Crows ') are rejected of every 

 man as a fishy meat ; nevertheless, being fed at home vv'ith new curds and good 

 corn till they be fat, you shall seldomc taste of a lighter or better meate. " 



