/4 BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



wing, they follow the parent birds to the fields in search of food, 

 which entirely consists of worms and grubs of every description, 

 so that I have no hesitation in saying the benefit those birds 

 do to the surrounding neighbourhood is immense. 



The colour of one of the birds in full plumage is a white body, 

 light grey wings, and a black head. The young ones are 

 quite mixed with brown, with no black head; and I observe 

 when they first return in the spring of the year, that nearly 

 half the birds have white heads, which gradually turn black 

 while they stay. This leads me to the conclusion that they 

 do not get the black head until about a year old. 



The period of their departure is spread over most part of 

 the month of July, according as each pair has been soon or 

 late in hatching and rearing its young. Some solitary birds 

 may be found in the month of August, but these are the 

 product of such as have had their first nests destroyed, and 

 hatched a second time, and are almost certain to become a 

 prey to Hawks, etc. It is impossible to estimate their number, 

 but some idea may be formed from the fact that the lake- 

 is seven acres, one rood, and twenty -four perches in extent, 

 which is covered as thick, when they are disturbed and on the 

 wing, as if a shower of snow were falling on it, while they 

 are so tame that they take not the slightest heed to the continual 

 traffic on the turnpike-road, which passes them within six 

 yards of the edge of the water. 



I think I have given you all the information I can relative 

 to these interesting visitors of Mr. Askew. There is one other 

 place in the neighbourhood called Paston Lake, to which they 

 resort, but I think not in such numbers as 'Askew's Hens' 

 collect; but, bearing on the subject, I will take the liberty 

 of enclosing a copy of some verses which a cottager in our 

 village here, called W. Eobson, gave me the other day. I 

 may state, as the lines shew, that the composer is quite 

 illiterate, but withal a turn about him for poetry; and with 

 the hope that the poor attempt I have made to meet your 

 wishes, and to shew the habits of what this neighbourhood is 

 so justly proud of may answer your purpose, 



I have the honour to be, Madam, 



Your very obedient Servant, 



THOS. MASON. 

 To Mrs. Hincks.' 



