87 



THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



(Larus ridibundus.) 



This Gull is a migrant in Hungary. Many, however, 

 pass the winter with us, leaving the frozen inland waters 

 for the open streams of the rivers, where they pass their 

 time until spring returns. It has quite adapted itself to 

 life on land, and there is no bird which more assiduously 

 follows the plough in those districts where it has its 

 nesting place on the inland waters, or more zealously 

 clears the cornfields, meadows, and rush-beds of all 

 kinds of noxious worms and grubs, than this gull. It 

 also feeds its young on these insects, and many of the 

 landowners, have to thank the Blackheaded Gull that 

 they are free from the annoyance of these pests. It 

 frequents the ponds and lakes, however, in autumn, and 

 makes havoc among the little fishes. Its screeching 

 call can be heard at a great distance, " Krea, Kred," or 

 " Krackackark." 



It is an exceedingly useful bird, and ought to be 

 protected. 



This species is generally distributed on our shores 

 all through the year in Great Britain, but in spring it 

 betakes itself to marshy places near the coast and to 

 inland lakes and meres. Near Poole in Dorset is a 

 colony of these Gulls, they ought rather to be called 

 Brown than Black-headed; on the coast of Essex, several 

 in Norfolk, small ones in Yorkshire one large one near 

 Brigg in Lincolnshire; and those of Aqualate Mere in 

 Staffordshire and Norbury have existed for some centu- 

 ries. In many other districts to the North they are even 



