THE GULL. 389 



To what regions the great body resort for their winter abode 

 is not exactly known ; probably they separate, and parties 

 linger in particular spots, as in the autumn they appear in great 

 abundance on the coast of Carmarthen and Glamorganshire, 

 about the mouths of rivers. In Northumberland they are also 

 common, and for many years have attached themselves to a 

 large pond at Pallinsburn, the seat of A. Askew, Esq., where 

 their habits and punctuality are similar to the account above 

 given, and from whence (in consequence of the increase pro- 

 duced by the protection afforded during the breeding season) 

 flocks have at different times detached themselves to such 

 other situations in the neighbourhood as were suitable. 



The following account of these birds, from Dr. Plot's 

 History of Staffordshire (p. 231, edit. Oxford, 1686), is also 

 worthy of attention, partly from its accuracy, and closely 

 corroborating that just given, and partly as an instance of 

 the credulity of the otherwise talented writer, who so easily 

 fell into the superstitious notions of the neighbourhood, and 

 firmly believed that the attachment of these birds to particular 

 spots depended on the life and death of the proprietors : — 



"But the strangest whole-footed water-fowl e that frequents this 

 country is a species of Gull ; in some counties called the Black-Cap, 

 in others, the Sea or Mire-Crow, here, the Pewitt ; which being of 

 the migratory kind, comes annually to certain pooles in the estate 

 of the right worshipful Sir Charles Skrymsher, knight, to build and 

 breed, and to no other estate in or near the county, but of this 

 family, to which they have belonged ultra hominum memoriam, and 

 never moved from it, though they have changed their station often. 

 They anciently came to an old Pewit poole, about half a mile S.W. 

 of Norbury Church, but it being their strange quality (as the whole 

 family will tell you, to whom I referr the reader for the following 

 account) to be disturbed and remove upon the death of the head of 

 it, as they did within memory, upon the death of James Skrymsher, 

 Esq., to Offley Moss, near Woods-Eves, which Moss, though con- 

 taining two gentlemen's land, yet (which is very remarkable) the 

 Pewits did discern betwixt the one and the other, and build only on 

 the land of the next heir, John Skrymsher, Esq., so wholly are they 

 addicted to this family. 



"At which Moss they continued about three years, and then 

 removed to the old Pewit poole a^ain, where they continued to the 

 death of the said John Skrymsher, Esq., which happening on the 



