Zan BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
Little Gulls which visited the east coast of England, 
and about this time several were obtained on the 
marshes of the Dee Estuary near Queensferry.1 Mr. 
W. Bell has a specimen that was shot on the Mersey, 
near New Brighton, on November 1st, 1880.2 Mr. R. 
Newstead saw a Little Gull close to Chester on 
January 4th, 1895. He says:—‘ When crossing the Dee 
Bridge my attention was attracted by what I at first 
thought a species of Tern. The bird was in company with 
three or four Black-headed Gulls, but it did not seem 
at all pleased with their society, as it constantly made 
away from them. Time after time the bird flew quite 
close to me, giving every opportunity to note its colour- 
pattern, etc. It was immature, and I have not the 
least doubt as to the identity of the species. Several 
times the bird stooped and caught something from the 
surface of the water, and afterwards flew towards the 
Dee Mills. An hour later it had gone away.’ 
BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
LARUS RIDIBUNDUS, Linnzeus. 
Seagull, Sea Crow. 
Within the last twelve or thirteen years a small 
colony of Black-headed Gulls has established itself in 
Delamere Forest, but the bird does not breed elsewhere 
in the county. At all seasons of the year, however, the 
Black-headed Gull is common round the coast, and is 
frequently met with inland, where it is most abundant 
after heavy weather. Large numbers are always to be 
seen in the river and the docks at Birkenhead, in close 
1 Dobie, op. cit. p. 342. 2 Zoologist, ser, 111. vol. v. p. 27. 1881. 
