170 THE BIEDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 



species are far from being accidental^ or the result of the birds 

 having lost their way, or been storm-driven^ as in the ease of 

 Petrels and some other birds. Stress of vi^eather to some 

 extent it doubtless is which brings them here, but they have 

 only wandered rather further than usual while following their 

 common practice of going inland for shelter and food, when 

 stormy weather makes it impossible to fish in, or to sit on, the 

 sea. Another reason for their presence with us must not be 

 overlooked. It has been surmised that the Gulls we see flying 

 overhead may be merely taking a short cut across a portion of 

 England, from the Wash to the Bristol Channel, or vice versa. 

 This cause seems the more probable from the fact that far 

 more Gulls are noticed in spring and autumn, when their mi- 

 grations would take place, than at other seasons. The flight 

 from the Wash to the Severn in autumn would be an extremely 

 likely movement, especially considering the prevalence of 

 south-westerly winds at that season, and the partiality of 

 Gulls for flying against the wind, as shown by Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, ]va\\'. [Trans. Norfolk and Nonrich Nat. Society , vol. 

 iv, p, 326.) I have many notes of Gulls in flocks, and singly, 

 taking that direction in autumn, and the opposite course in 

 spring. 



THE HERRING GULL. \J 



Larus argeiitahis. 



The Herring Gull is an occasional, and not at all uncommon-, 

 visitor, generally in spring or autumn. It is seldom that 

 these Gulls alight, and they are usually seen passing over. 

 On the 2nd September, 1887, after a fui-ious storm from the 

 south-west the previous night, a flock of Gulls was seen by a 

 friend of mine flying over Adderbury, against the south-west 

 wind, which was still high ; these had no doubt come from the 

 Wash, and their line of flight would take them to the Bristol 

 Channel. From the description given^ ^^J were probably of 

 this species^ and a Herring Gull which was picked up some 



