114 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Situation and Localitij. — Ou the ground, in a 

 tussock of coarse grass, tuft of rushes, or a shght 

 hollow on the hare ground ; in swamps and bogs, 

 at the edges of and on islands in tarns and lakes. 

 In large colonies at a great number of suitable 

 places throughout the British Isles. Two famous 

 places in England are Scoulton Mere in Norfolk, 

 where the bird has nested in thousands for upwards 

 of three hundred years in succession, and at Pal- 

 linsburn in Northumberland. Although gregarious, 

 I have frequently met with solitary pairs nesting 

 on small mountain tarns. Our illustration is from 

 a photograph taken late in the season at Scoulton 

 Mere. 



Materials. — Sedges, rushes, tops of reeds, and 

 withered grass ; general^ in small quantities, some- 

 times quite absent, and at others in fairly large 

 quantities, much depending upon the site chosen. 



Eggs. — Two to three ; usually the second number, 

 and occasionally four, varying from pale olive-green 

 to light umber-brown in ground-colour, blotched, 

 spotted, and streaked with blackish-brown and dark 

 grey. Size about 2 '2 by 1*45 in. They are subject 

 to great variation in regard to size, shaj^e, and 

 colour; but their small size generally and the pre- 

 sence of the parent birds easily distinguish them. 



Time. — April, May, and sometimes as late as 

 June. 



Beniai-l's. — Eesident, but subject to much local 

 movement. Notes : a hoarse cackle, resembling a 

 laugh when quickly repeated. Local and other 

 names : Ked-legged Gull, Laughing Gull, Peewit 

 Gull, Blackcap, Sea Crow, Hooded Mew, Brown- 

 headed Gull, Mire Crow, Croker, Pickmire. Sits 

 lightly, and clamours noisily overhead when dis- 

 turbed. Gregarious, as a rule. 



