THE GULL. 24] 



stragglers. This goes on till about the end of the 

 month, when, and in the first days of March, they 

 appear in detachments of about fifty, flying near to 

 the water, but never alighting upon it, being appa- 

 rently occupied in reconnoitring, and departing 

 after an hour or two. In a few days, the numbers 

 increase to detachments of about three or four hun- 

 dred, but still departing after they have made their 

 observations. Invariably, however, about the 8th 

 of March, they come in thousands, settle upon the 

 water, and take possession of the island. 



The people on the spot have learned from their 

 fathers, and it is confirmed by their own observation, 

 that the day after Hingham fair, which is on the 

 7th March, is that on which the Scoulton Pies, as 

 they call them, come to the mere. They are, as 

 their English name, " the Laughing Gull," implies, 

 garrulous and noisy birds, being rarely silent for 

 more than one hour out of the twenty-four. In 

 about a fortnight they pair, and begin to build; their 

 nests are very simple, a few cross pieces of the softer 

 remnants of the reeds and grass, and so closely packed 

 together, on the favourite spots by the edge of the 

 water, that an outspread hand would touch two or 

 three of them. They lay three thin-shelled eggs, 

 and instantly begin to sit, so that the egg- gatherers 

 are obliged to be on the alert to take them, before 

 that process begins. For some time no eggs were 

 allowed to be taken, but on its being ascertained 

 that, in consequence of so many being hatched at 

 once, several were starved, a certain proportion only 

 were preserved, and the remainder are for a few 



VOL. n. R 



