COLLECTING THE EGGS. 127 



three in each nest, and their colour was generally olive brown, 

 blotched and spotted with darker brown, but there was a very 

 great variety in their colour. Some were very light, some were 

 very dark, and others were all blue like a heron's egg. The 

 business of collecting the eggs went on very quietly and expe- 

 ditiously, but the boys were almost made dizzy with the con- 

 stant swooping of the gulls about their heads, and almost 

 deafened by their cries. One part of the marshy island was so 

 soft that no one could walk upon it, and the gulls which bred 

 there never had their nests disturbed except by the rats and 

 weasels, which naturally abound in such places. 



YOUNG GULLS COVERED WITH DOWN-. 



The black-headed gull derives its name from the black patch 

 on its head, which, however only appears during the breeding 

 season. 



" When do the gulls arrive ?" the boys asked. 



Well, sir, a lot of them come in March and stay for a day or 

 two, as if to see that everything is right ; and then they go away, 

 and in a few days afterwards the whole of them come and begin 

 to lay directly. There was some very stormy weather in March 

 this year and they were late in coming, or most of the eggs 

 would have been hatched by now." 



" And when do they leave ? " 



