WATER BIRDS. 231 



except the centre, and one outer feather, which were 

 pure white. There are several large colonies of these 

 birds in Yorkshire, and this most likely was a straggler 

 from one of them. 



The Kittiwake (L. tridactylus) is frequently seen on 

 the Trent, and I have noted its occurrence several times 

 in our own immediate neighbourhood. On February 

 12th, 1850, I saw a young one busily searching some 

 dung on the turnpike-road on Budby Forest ; it rose on 

 my approach, but soon alighted again, showing little 

 sign of fear or timidity. On February 7th, 1854, a 

 young bird in immature plumage was brought to me. 

 It was first seen by the side of the race at Rufford Mill 

 by the miller, and was evidently in an exhausted state, 

 most likely from want of food during the severe weather 

 that then prevailed, for he ran it down, after a short 

 chase; it bore no marks of hurt or disease, and its 

 plumage was in beautiful condition. On December 

 15th, 1857, two adult males were picked up, one at 

 Southwell with its wing broken by shot, and the other 

 at Farnsfield, dead. Another adult male was seen fly- 

 ing over the water at Perlethorpe Mill, and was shot by 

 one of the keepers. 



The Common Gull (L. canus) is a still more regular 

 visitor, sometimes appearing in large flocks, but always 

 in the winter. In January, 1848, during a severe frost, 

 I saw a numerous party several times, and obtained one 

 of them. In subsequent years I have frequently noticed 

 their occurrence in greater or less abundance ; but on 

 each occasion they flew listlessly about, as if the want of 

 food had deprived them of their usual busy energy ; 

 indeed, in November, 1859, one or two were picked up in 

 quite an emaciated state. It seems strange that they 



