COMMON GULL. 335 



by easterly winds and heavy snow storms which pre- 

 vailed from the 28th February to the 3rd March. 



LARUS CANUS, Linnseus. 



COMMON GULL. 



" This species," says Mr. Stevenson, " like some of 

 the larger gulls, is seen on our coast throughout the 

 year ; a few stragglers, both immature and adult, which 

 from some cause have not repaired to their northerly 

 nesting-places, appearing throughout the breeding 

 season. 



" In spring and autumn, and more particularly at 

 the latter season, they are very abundant, and at times 

 in winter during severe weather immense flocks of small 

 gulls, consisting of the black-headed and common gulls, 

 frequent the Breydon muds and other similar localities, 

 which from the alternate action of the tides afford an 

 inexhaustible supply of food. Here they may be seen 

 at low water dispersing themselves in groups over the 

 sandy bars, mingling freely with, though in strange 

 contrast to, their sable companions, rooks, carrion crows, 

 and jackdaws. 



" 1 know no prettier sight on a clear sunny day 

 than the appearance of these gulls thus dotted like white 

 specks as far as the eye can reach, some wading or 

 pitching into the shallow waters, others pacing up and 

 down or fluttering. onwards to fresh grounds, their white 

 breasts glistening in the sun and giving to the whole 

 scene an amount of animation that cannot fail to strike 

 even the least observant. Next to the black-headed 

 species this is perhaps more of a land gull than any 

 other, and in the early spring follows the course of the 

 rivers far inland to frequent the freshly turned soil. In 

 February and March I have seen large flocks upon the 

 high ground about Arminghall and Markshall, near 

 Norwich, following the plough like rooks in search of 

 worms and grubs." 



The common gull is by no means confined to the 

 sea- shore, but after a flood visits the drowned lands in 



