BLACK-HEADED GULL. 149 



different shades of brown and reddish brown. One 

 beautiful variety has been described, the ground colour 

 a very light greenish white, blotted with two shades 

 of rich brown. In some instances they are found 

 entirely white. 



The young birds leave the nest and betake them- 

 selves to the water as soon as hatched. 



Sir William Jardine writes, 'They are particular 

 in the choice of a breeding-place, at least some which 

 we would think suited for them are passed or deserted, 

 and others more unlikely are selected. We possess a 

 reedy loch which was for many years a haunt of these 

 birds, but the edges were planted and they left it; 

 ten years afterwards, and when the plantation had 

 grown up, a few pairs returned, and in time increased 

 to a large colony, when an artificial piece of water had 

 been made by damming up a narrow pass in an extensive 

 muir, nearly two miles distant; thither the Gulls re- 

 sorted the following spring, leaving their ancient 

 ground; and they have been increasing in numbers 

 for some years past.' 



