BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 



spring, but never breeding in any of them, though 

 a few young and non-breeding birds may be seen 

 about at all times of the summer, especially about 

 the harbour. Being a marsh-breeding Gull, and 

 selecting low marshy islands situated for the most 

 part in inland fresh-water lakes and large pieces of 

 water, it is not to be wondered at that it does not 

 breed in the Channel Islands, where there are no 

 places either suited to its requirements or where 

 it could find a sufficient supply of its customary 

 food during the breeding-season. Very soon after 

 they have left their breeding-stations, however, 

 both old and young birds may be seen about the 

 harbours and bays of Guernsey and the other 

 islands seeking for food, in which matter they are 

 not very particular, picking up any floating rubbish 

 or nastiness they may find in the harbour. The 

 generality of specimens occurring in the Channel 

 Islands are in either winter or immature plumage, 

 very few having assumed the dark-coloured head 

 which marks the breeding plumage. This dark 

 colour of the head, which is sometimes assumed as 

 early as the end of February, comes on very rapidly, 

 not being the effect of moult, but of a change of 

 colour in the feathers themselves, the dark colour- 

 ing-matter gradually spreading over each feather 

 and supplanting the white of the winter plumage ; 

 a few new feathers are also grown at this time to 

 replace any that have been accidentally shed 



