146 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



in this immediate neighbourhood, and there are 

 even better localities farther inland. The Quail 

 is a rare and local bird in Devonshire, although 

 one that, like the Waxwing, sometimes visits the 

 county in exceptional numbers. We have never 

 met with the Quail in this district, although local 

 specimens have been obtained, and instances are 

 on record of its having nested in the county. 

 Quails sometimes remain over the winter in Devon- 

 shire ; but we believe the fact to be in every way 

 analogous with the wintering of such species as 

 Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. 



Gulls of various species are frequent visitors to 

 the lowland fields of Devonshire. In the South 

 Hams one of the most familiar is the Herring 

 Gull. Large flocks of this species assemble 

 at irregular intervals on the pastures pretty 

 well all the year round ; whilst in winter 

 the Black-headed Gull is a frequent visitor to 

 those fields especially where tillage operations 

 are in progress. Some of these flocks number 

 several thousands of birds, and when they rise in 

 a fluttering mass, sometimes intermixed with a 

 company of Rooks, the effect is most impressive 

 and beautiful. The smaller Gulls resort to the 



