146 THE GULLS 



them to the nest-spot, dropped them, and occasionally sat down upon 

 them and worked them into shape. 



The material of the nest varies of course with the surroundings. 

 Among the sandhills of Ravenglass and Walney they are mostly made 

 of marram grass, and are of all sizes. The largest nest I have ever 

 seen was at Ravenglass. It was made of the rough dry stalks of some 

 large plant, to which was added a lining of marram grass. It was 

 nearly two feet high, and the material would have filled two buckets. 

 (PL XLIV.) Large structures made of water-plants are also found 

 in marsh or lake colonies. 



The species seems able to modify very readily its nest-building 

 habits. At Dungeness, for instance, in 1908, a few pairs, apparently 

 unable to find place for their nests in the main colony among the 

 reeds, built them on dry ground near by, and, instead of water- 

 plants, used moss, lichen, dry grass and twigs, and were content with 

 much smaller nests than those of their fellows. 



Laying begins in April, the time varying with season and latitude. 

 Incubation is said to commence after the first egg is laid. 1 Both 

 sexes share in the task. On one occasion I saw a bird alight and 

 push its mate off the nest with its breast, so eager was it to settle on 

 the eggs. Dr. F. Heath erley informs me that he saw pairs change 

 places every half-hour. This happened many times and with great 

 regularity. 



The chicks are hatched on successive days. 1 They are pretty 

 little down-covered creatures, and are soon able to move about. They 

 quit the nest when alarmed, and, in the sandhill colonies of Raven- 

 glass and Walney, conceal themselves in the marram grass. I have seen 

 one led back to the nest by the parent bird, who achieved her purpose 

 by calling to it and making snuggling movements with her breast. 

 They return also of their own accord. I have had no opportunity of 

 watching their behaviour in a marsh colony, except to note that they 

 were swimming when about a week old. Dr. F. Heatherley informs 



1 British Birds (Mag.), iv. 141 (E. B. Dunjop). 



