72 BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



after, the following letters from Mr. Selby, and Mr. Mason the 

 agent, are the result: 



'Twizell House, March 12th., 1856. 



Dear Miss Pulleine. My daughter, Mrs. Luard, has inti- 

 mated to me your wish to obtain for Mr. Morris, who is 

 engaged in a work on British Ornithology, an answer to some 

 queries respecting the Gull which resorts during the breeding- 

 season to the pond at Pallinsburn. The bird in question 

 belongs to the family of the 'Laridae/ and to the genus 'Lams.' 

 It is the 'Larus ridibundus' of Linnaeus, and is known by the 

 provincial names of the Laughing Gull, Peewit Gull, Black- 

 cap Gull, Pickmire, etc. During the autumn and winter it 

 is common on the coast, but destitute of the black head, which 

 it assumes periodically, as in many of the Terns and lesser 

 Gulls, immediately previous to departure for its breeding- 

 quarters. By the middle of March the great body that 

 annually resorts to the pond at Pallinsburn have made their 

 appearance there, and are soon engaged in the cares of incu- 

 bation, and by the end of July have again departed with 

 their young to the sea coast, the black hood being thrown 

 off, and the head white, with the exception of a few grey 

 spots behind the ears. As to number, they may be reckoned 

 in thousands, and of late years colonies have been thrown off, 

 which resort to ponds at Dunse Castle and at Paston, near 

 Yetholme. I can trace them to have resorted to Pallinsburn 

 for upwards of a hundred years, and probably their first 

 appearance was at a much earlier period. Any further 

 information you may wish I shall, if able, be happy to 

 supply, and 



I am, with respect, 



Yours truly, 



P. I/ SELBY.' 



'Pallinsburn Cottage, Wooler, March 18th., 1856. 



Madam, Miss Pulleine, when here a week or two ago, 

 requested me to furnish you with some particulars relative to 

 the Gulls which annually visit our pond at Pallinsburn. This 

 I would have done sooner, but amongst other queries contained 

 in a paper she gave me, was one asking the ornithological 

 name of the birds. This I have been unable to make out, 



