THE GULL. 243 



an open field in the eyening, and go off in the night. 

 The first detachments retire about the end of July, 

 and they almost entirely disappear in the course of 

 August. 



To what regions the great body resort for their 

 Winter abode is not exactly known ; probably they 

 separate, and parties linger in particular spots, as in 

 the Autumn they appear in great abundance on the 

 coast of Carmarthen and Glamorganshire, about the 

 mouths of rivers. In Northumberland they are also 

 common, and for many years have attached them- 

 selves to a large pond at Pallinsburn, the seat of A. 

 Askew, Esq., where their habits and punctuality are 

 similar to the account above given, and from whence 

 (in consequence of the increase produced by the 

 protection afforded during the breeding season), 

 flocks have at different times detached themselves to 

 such other situations in the neighbourhood as were 

 suitable. 



The following account of these birds, from Dr. 

 Plot's History of Staffordshire (p. 231, edit. Ox- 

 ford, 1686), is also worthy of attention, partly from 

 its accuracy, and closely corroborating that just 

 given, and partly as an instance of the credulity of 

 the otherwise talented writer, who so easily fell into 

 the superstitious notions of the neighbourhood, and 

 firmly believed that the attachment of these birds to 

 particular spots depended on the life and death of 

 the proprietors: 



" But the strangest whole-footed water-fowle that 

 frequents this country, is a species of Gull ; in some 

 counties, called the Black-Cap, in others, the Sea 

 or Mire Crow, here, the Pewit; which being of the 



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