A SIR PLOVER'S YEAR 



visitor to England (for it has no breeding- 

 place south of the border). 



Like the herring gull it also follows the 

 plough and roams over moorland and pasture 

 land. The eggs are laid on islands off the 

 sea coast, or in inland lochs. 



The Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) 

 is the most widely known of all our gulls 

 and wends its way far inland. As far as 

 food is concerned " All is fish that comes 

 to its net," for small fishes, crustaceans, 

 dead animal matter and insects all form 

 part of the black-headed gull's bill of fare. 

 The characteristic mark of the brown hood 

 is not assumed till springtime, being invisible 

 during the winter months. During the 

 month of March these gulls withdraw to 

 their breeding-places, where they congregate 

 in immense numbers. 



The gulleries (which are usually situated 

 in some marsh or mere) are resorted to year 

 after year, the largest one being at Scoulton 

 Mere in Norfolk, where thousands of birds 

 breed annually. 



The eggs vary largely in ground colour, 

 from olive-brown to pale green or buff, three 

 or four being the usual number to be laid. 



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