070 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



the occiput and ear-coverts are faintly mottled, and the hue 

 of the mantle is just perceptible (Nat. 1890, p. 38 ; and Zoo/. 

 1890, p. 19). 



Other references to L. minutus are : Zoo/. 1864, p. 9365 ; 

 1866, p. 30 ; 1867, p. 1018 ; 1868, pp. 1379-1482 ; 1870, 

 pp. 2081-2107 ; 1875, p. 22 ; 1884, p. 61 ; Nat. 1887, p. 22 ; 

 Field, 26th November 1887, and 6th March 1897. 



The only local name, of which I am aware, is Dwarf Gull, 

 used at Bridlington. 



BLACK-HEADED GULL. 

 Larus ridibundus (L.). 



Resident ; very local in the nesting season. Common on the 

 coast in early spring, late summer and autumn ; less plentiful in winter. 



Probably the first Yorkshire reference to this Gull is found 

 in the Diaries of Bishop Nicholson of Carlisle, which contains 

 an account of his Lordship's journey from Carlisle to York ; 

 it certainly is interesting as shewing that a large nesting 

 colony was then in existence in the North Riding. The 

 extract reads thus : 



" 1702. 22 May That night to Greta Bridge. 



23. Baited at Butcher Houses ye property of Sr. 



Chrisr. Wanesford. The sign, Lion Rampant, his Arms. 

 About a mile and half short of Thornton Bridge thousands of 

 the Blackcap Mews breeding in a moss." (Extract from 

 Bishop Nicholson's Diaries, Part ii., by the Bishop of Barrow- 

 in-Furness. Trans. Cumb. and Westm. Antiq. and Archseol. 

 Society, Vol. ii., New Series, p. 1656.) 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : 



Larus ridibundus. Black-headed Gull Common on the coast ; 

 John Heppenstall informs me that this bird was formerly very abundant 

 on Thorne Moor, but has now very nearly disappeared ; it has been 

 shot at New Miller Dam, near Wakefield ; it is met with near Hudders- 

 field. A. Strickland says this bird breeds in great abundance on one 

 of the islands in the middle of Hornsea Mere, but it is not often found 



