THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 239 



it may often be seen in thousands settling on the mudflats, or 

 following the shoals of fish for miles across the sea. It natur- 

 ally follows that a bird like the Black -headed Gull subsists 

 upon a somewhat varied diet. During spring and summer it 

 feeds on much the same substances as the Rook grubs, 

 insects, worms, and especially wire-worms, frogs, and even 

 newly-sown grain, as well as fresh- water fish ; but in winter, 

 when it lives almost exclusively at sea, its food is fish, crusta- 

 ceans, and various other small animals of the deep. Unlike 

 the Terns, it feeds on shore as well as at sea, and picks up 

 much of its food when swimming on the surface as well as 

 when fluttering in the air. In winter it often follows ships, 

 and frequents harbours and tidal rivers to pick up any scraps 

 that may chance to be thrown overboard, or are floating on 

 the surface. There can be no doubt that this interesting 

 little Gull is of great service to the agriculturist, and its 

 visits to the land should be encouraged. It has no mischievous 

 habits, nor does it return in harvest to levy a tribute for its 

 good offices in seed-time. No more harmless bird cleaves the 



o 



air, yet how often is it ruthlessly shot down by the stupid 

 farmer in very wantonness ! 



The Black-headed Gull is an early breeder. In the boister- 

 ous month of March it begins to acquire its sooty- brown hood, 

 which is the most distinctive feature of its wedding garments, 

 and by the beginning of April the usual breeding-places are 

 crowded with birds. By the middle of the month the nests 

 are made and many of the eggs deposited. Unfortunately 

 for the Black-headed Gull, the drainage and reclamation of 

 marshes and mosses have robbed it of many quiet breeding- 

 places, where it has reared its young in undisturbed pos- 

 session for ages. In the low-lying counties there are several 

 places left, but in the north its colonies are much more 

 numerous, though they cannot well be more interesting. A 

 visit to one of these famous " Gulleries " is a red-letter day in 



