WATER BIRDS, oan 
except the centre, and one outer feather, which were 
pure white. There are several large colonies of these 
birds in Yorkshire, and this most likely was a straggler 
from one of them. 
The Kittiwake (L. tridactylus) is frequently seen on 
the Trent, and I have noted its occurrence several times 
in our own immediate neighbourhood. On February 
12th, 1850, I saw a young one busily searching some 
dung on the turnpike-road on Budby Forest ; it rose on 
my approach, but soon alighted again, showing little 
sign of fear or timidity. On February 7th, 1854, a 
young bird in immature plumage was brought to me. 
It was first seen by the side of the race at Rufford Mill 
by the miller, and was evidently in an exhausted state, 
most likely from want of food during the severe weather 
that then prevailed, for he ran it down, after a short 
chase; it bore no marks of hurt or disease, and its 
plumage was in beautiful condition. On December 
15th, 1857, two adult males were picked up, one at 
Southwell with its wing broken by shot, and the other 
at Farnsfield, dead. Another adult male was seen fly- 
ing over the water at Perlethorpe Mill, and was shot by 
one of the keepers. 
The Common Gull (ZL. canus) is a still more regular 
visitor, sometimes appearing in large flocks, but always 
in the winter. In January, 1848, during a severe frost, 
I saw a numerous party several times, and obtained one 
of them. In subsequent years I have frequently noticed 
their occurrence in greater or less abundance ; but on 
each occasion they flew listlessly about, as if the want of 
food had deprived them of their usual busy energy ; 
indeed, in November, 1859, one or two were picked up in 
quite an emaciated state. It seems strange that they 
