72 
BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
after, the following letters from Mr. Selby, and Mr. Mason the 
agent, are the result: 
‘Twizell House, March 12th., 1856. 
Dear Miss Pulleine.—My daughter, Mrs. Luard, has inti¬ 
mated to me your wish to obtain for Mr. Morris, who is 
engaged in a work on British Ornithology, an answer to some 
queries respecting the Gull which resorts during the breeding- 
season to the pond at Pallinsburn. The bird in question 
belongs to the family of the ‘Laridse,’ and to the genus ‘Larus.’ 
It is the ‘Larus ridibundus’ of Linnaeus, and is known by the 
provincial names of the Laughing Gull, Peewit Gull, Black¬ 
cap Gull, Pickmire, etc. During the autumn and winter it 
is common on the coast, but destitute of the black head, which 
it assumes periodically, as in many of the Terns and lesser 
Gulls, immediately previous to departure for its breeding- 
quarters. By the middle of March the great body that 
annually resorts to the pond at Pallinsburn have made their 
appearance there, and are soon engaged in the cares of incu¬ 
bation, and by the end of July have again departed with 
their young to the sea coast, the black hood being thrown 
off, and the head white, with the exception of a few grey 
spots behind the ears. As to number, they may be reckoned 
in thousands, and of late years colonies have been thrown off, 
which resort to ponds at Dunse Castle and at Paston, near 
Yetholme. I can trace them to have resorted to Pallinsburn 
for upwards of a hundred years, and probably their first 
appearance was at a much earlier period. Any further 
information you may wish I shall, if able, be happy to 
supply, and 
I am, with yespect, 
Yours truly, 
P. I. Selby.’ 
‘Pallinsburn Cottage, Wooler, March 18th., 1856. 
Madam,—Miss Pulleine, when here\ a week or two ago, 
requested me to furnish you with some particulars relative to 
the Gulls which annually visit our pond at Pallinsburn. This 
I would have done sooner, but amongst other queries contained 
in a paper she gave me, was one asking the ornithological 
name of the birds. This I have been unable to make out. 
