THE GULL. 437 



thirty of which are occupied by a large island, consisting 

 of about eighteen acres of remarkably fine reeds (Arundo 

 phragmites), in great request for thatching; two or three 

 acres of broad flag, as much of coarse grass, mixed with 

 a small quantity of fine sedge, and about sixteen in the 

 centre, where the island is firmly attached to the bottom 

 are occupied by birch brushwood, out of which rise birch 

 trees, from thirty to forty feet in height, not one of 

 which has ever been blown clown by the gales, which 

 often make sad havoc with the oaks and other trees. 

 It is on this island chiefly that the Gulls breed, a few 

 only wandering to smaller pieces of water in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The produce of the island being valuable, is 

 completely cleared off in the course of the Winter, 

 except the brushwood and trees; so that in the early 

 Spring, it is in a very convenient state for the accom- 

 modation of the birds, the details of whose operations are 

 as follows. 



About the middle of February, for an hour or two in 

 the course of the day, their well-known cry may be 

 heard, high in the air, proceeding from a few stragglers. 

 This goes on till about the end of the month, when, and 

 in the first days of March, they appear in detachments of 

 about fifty, flying near to the water, but never alighting 

 upon it, being apparently occupied in reconnoitring, and 

 departing after an hour or two. In a few days the 

 numbers increase to detachments of about three or four 

 hundred, but still departing after they have made their 

 observations. Invariably however about the 8th of 

 March, they come in thousands, settle upon the water, 

 and take possession of the island. 



The people on the spot have learned from their 

 fathers, and it is confirmed by their own observation,, 

 that the day after Hingham fair, which is on the 7th 

 March, is that on which the Scoulton Pies, as they call 

 them, come to the mere. They are, as their English 

 name, " the Laughing Gull, implies, garrulous and noisy 

 birds, being rarely silent for more than one hour out of 



