On HcatJis and I\Iarshes. 127 



to them to breed, seeking the coasts in autumn; the 

 others at all seasons. Amongst the Passerine birds 

 of the marshes we may instance the Sedge Warbler 

 — one of the most widely distributed of British 

 species — the varied chattering music of which is a 

 very characteristic marsh sound during the summer. 

 At a few localities in Yorkshire and Lancashire the 

 Reed Warbler may be met with, a migratory species 

 like the last, but not penetrating to Scotland. Then 

 the Reed Bunting is a familiar bird on many a marshy 

 waste, so too is the Sky-lark and the Meadow Pipit; 

 whilst in winter-time these places are often made 

 lively by large congregations of Lapwings, Starlings, 

 Rooks and Redwings, and scattered Jack Snipes 

 from far northern haunts. 



We may conclude our brief notice of marsh bird- 

 life by a glimpse at the Black-headed Gull. This 

 charming bird visits many a swampy piece of ground 

 far from the sea during spring and summer to rear 

 its young. In Lincolnshire there is an extensive 

 gullery near Brigg — at Twigmoor — from which we 

 have had many eggs during our long residence in 

 South Yorkshire. There is another in South York- 

 shire near Thorne; a third at Cockerham Moss in 

 Lancashire. As we proceed northwards the colonies 

 of this Gull increase in number, and in Scotland they 

 are still more frequent. Many of these gulleries are 

 situated on islands in pools in the marshes and on 



