THE GULL. 119 



having a good flavour and no fishy taste, for the birds 

 at this time of the year live on land slugs and worms 

 chiefly. When the eggs are removed, like many 

 other species, they lay again, and even a third time, 

 but the eggs are smaller, some not above a third the 

 proper size. Some eggs of this species are as ab- 

 normal in shape and size as eggs of the common fowl 

 frequently are. 



" If we adopt," says Mr. Hewitson, " the opinion 

 of some naturalists, that the ovarium of a bird con- 

 tains, from its first creation, all the eggs which it is 

 destined to lay through life, then how soon must 

 those persecuted gulls be rendered barren and unpro- 

 ductive, perhaps even before they have once had the 

 pleasure of bringing up a family of young ones." 

 This species breeds in Norfolk, and especially at 

 Scoulton Mere, where there is a large colony of 

 them. They perch upon the willow-trees in an un- 

 gainly way. Mr. Newton says he saw a nest in 

 one of these trees, placed about 4 or 5 feet from 

 the ground. The eggs are laid in the end of 

 April or May. Quantities of these eggs are brought 

 to Norwich market. A man and three boys will 

 collect as many as a thousand in one day : this 

 shows how extremely prolific the birds are, and that 

 in this locality they assemble in great numbers. The 

 eggs vary very much in colour ; the ground is some- 

 times a light blue or yellow, and sometimes green, 

 red, or brown. 



