62 ai.len's naturalist's library. 



which, like some others, has a reed-thatched roof — an indication 

 of a fenny neighbourhood. 



" The sight of the birds of Scoulton, as they rise in a dense 

 mass, filling the air like snow, is certainly very beautiful ; and 

 the sound of the multitude of voices is music to the ornitho- 

 logical ear. 



" The Gulls chiefly congregate at each end of ' the heath,' as 

 the great island is called, on which Scotch firs and birches grow. 

 If an unfortunate Heron appears, they mob him, and keep even 

 the swans at a respectful distance, with blows on the head. 

 After the Gulls leave, however, the Herons frequently take 

 possession of the mere. 



" Mr. Weyland has constructed a path, called the ' twenty- 

 foot road,' all round, which makes a dry and agreeable 

 promenade, whence the visitor may view the islets of the 

 broad water, which are named Tea Island, Boat-house Island, 

 &:c., «&c. 



" Many years ago the greater portion of Scoulton parish was 

 common land, and the mere is part of the allotment to the 

 Weyland family. Long may it flourish and protect these 

 Gulls, who probably are the oldest inhabitants, as they are 

 mentioned by Sir Thomas Browne as breeding there in his 

 time ; and they may be coeval with the lake itself. The birds 

 arrive some time in February. 



" The keeper states that he took 6,000 eggs last season, and 

 these eggs fetch one shilHng per dozen. But in the time of 

 the Rev. Richard Lubbock — as mentioned in the ' Fauna of 

 Norfolk,' in my edition (1845) — it is said (p. 123) that an 

 average season produces more than 30,000 eggs ; five years 

 before that they took 44,000. 



" Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., writes, in 'Rambles of a Naturalist ' 

 (p. 292): — 'In i860, about i6,oco eggs had been gathered. 

 In 1872, when I went again, only 4,000 were taken. This sad 

 falling off was due to dry seasons. Brown, the keeper, told me 

 that once the farmers spread the fields in the neighbourhood 

 with manure sown with salt, which poisoned the worms, &c., 

 upon which the Gulls feed, and that a great number died in 

 consequence. lie said also that they suffered from Stoats and 

 Rats; he had known, on one occasion, 150 of the nestlings 

 and eggs, just chipping, to be destroyed by a Stoat.' " 



