BLACK-HEADED GULL 



JLartis ndtbundus 



HI Black-headed Gull is perhaps the most common of its 

 genus throughout the British Islands, and though its 

 colonies do not approach those of the Kittiwake in size, 

 they are far more numerous. It is a resident in the 

 British Islands, and frequents our coasts during the 

 winter, being much commoner on the English and Irish 

 coasts at that season; it is in Scotland and Ireland, 

 however, that most of its colonies are to be found, as it retires inland during 

 spring and summer to the swampy moors and lochs to breed. 



The food of the Black-headed Gull consists chiefly of small fish, crus- 

 taceans, and marine animals during the winter, but in spring and summer, 

 when inland, they feed largely on insects, small frogs, young trout and parr. 

 They may often be seen following the plough in parties, along with the 

 Rooks, picking up the earthworms and grubs which are turned up; and a 

 very pretty picture they make, with their dainty snow-white plumage 

 gleaming in the sun against the rich brown of the newly turned up soil, as 

 they hover with outstretched wings in a little cloud, resting now and then 

 for a minute to pick up some worm, those behind flying forward over the 

 heads of their companions to a fresh place. They greedily devour the 

 noxious wireworm, and are very useful in destroying many insects which are 

 harmful to the crops. 



About the middle of March the Black-headed Gulls have returned to 

 their accustomed haunts inland, and have begun choosing fresh nesting sites 

 or repairing their last year's nests. On Flanders Moss, in the valley of the 

 Forth, where there is a large colony, the birds never remained in the vicinity 

 of the nesting-place at night, during the first two weeks after their arrival, 

 but retired some two miles off to the Lake of Monteith to sleep on the 



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