BIRD-LIFE BY RIVER AND STREAM. 8/ 



Gulls (neither of which, however, breed in the 

 south of the county) ; whilst the Herring Gull 

 most ubique of all is always with us, and breeds 

 in scattered colonies along the entire coast. The 

 large arctic Gulls are also visitors to many of 

 these noble estuaries during the late winter 

 months ; whilst the rare Sabine's Gull and the 

 commoner Little Gull are both distinguished 

 visitors, usually in immature dress. We may 

 also mention that the only known British example 

 of the Great Black-headed Gull was obtained off 

 the estuary of the Exe some forty years ago 

 (June 1859), and is still preserved in the Albert 

 Memorial Museum at Exeter. The Pomarine and 

 Richardson's Skuas are also periodical visitors to 

 these southern estuaries. We need scarcely say 

 that Herons, Cormorants, and Shags are parti- 

 cularly numerous in such fish-frequented spots. 

 Cormorants penetrate far up some of these Devon- 

 shire rivers, certainly beyond tidal limits ; but the 

 Shag is more strictly maritime, and confines him- 

 self to the lower tidal waters. It is no uncommon 

 sight to see large companies of Shags basking on 

 the sea-encircled rocks at the mouths of these 

 southern estuaries, or to catch glimpses of their 



