242 IN BIRD-LAND 



Paul's Churchyard I have also seen at times some 

 splendid specimens of White Sparrows. 



The Black-headed Gull can be seen on most 

 parts of our sea-coast during winter. At low tide 

 they will be found to have certain " beats " which 

 they rigidly keep to, which I have carefully noted 

 at different times when watching them and their 

 ways. These " beats " are usually about three 

 hundred yards in length ; and the Gulls follow in 

 single file, very orderly, going over the chosen 

 space, flying up slowly against the wind, occa- 

 sionally hovering over a small wave until it breaks, 

 in order to see what it may have brought with it, 

 then quickly pouncing on anything eatable which 

 comes to view. Each time they reach the end of 

 their " beat " they turn round and fly quickly, with 

 the wind back to their original starting-place, and 

 turning round will go over the whole ground again. 

 It is worth while to take notice of the accuracy with 

 which they keep to these " beats," never going 

 beyond a certain point, although to an observer 

 the coast for a mile or more may appear to be very 

 similar in its characteristics. 



I recently watched four Black-headed Gulls 

 searching for food in this way ; with a quick move- 

 ment of its wings, the foremost pounced on some- 

 thing that a receding wave had left, and picking 



