48 LONDON BIRDS 



The settling down of the birds, with wings stretched 

 backwards and held motionless till the points seem 

 tied behind them, is, if possible, even more beautiful 

 than their rise. 



The ' Pies/ as they are locally called, are traditionally 

 due at Scoulton on the 7th of March, and usually arrive 

 about that date. They are said to come in at first at a 

 great height, and to soar round the Mere for a day or 

 two before settling in earnest. Commonly before the 

 end of July the last lingerer has disappeared, and a 

 Gull is rarely to be seen again about the place until the 

 following spring. 



Although the eggs, as compared with those of the 

 Guillemot and many other birds, are in colour and 

 shape as a rule very uniform, the varieties to be found 

 occasionally more particularly towards the end of the 

 season are endless, ranging, through shades of spotted 

 green and brown, from faint Cambridge blue to the 

 colour of a ripening plum. 



The track of the Sea Gulls, which runs east and west 

 over Dover House, is becoming as clearly marked and 

 well known as are the great aerial highways which 

 have their crossings over Heligoland or in the passes 

 of the Pyrenees, and, PS it becomes more and more 

 wing-beaten, rarer birds, falling in line with the more 

 regular passengers, may be expected to find their way 

 in increasing numbers to London. 



The arrival on two recent occasions of what were 

 believed to be Eagles in London has been already 

 mentioned. Soon afterwards a careful observer, who 



