280 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xv. 



would cross from Holland to Norfolk in rather less than 

 five hours provided a change in the wind did not cause a 

 deviation of direction. 



Passagf: of Gulls. Lams argentatits, L. marimis, L. 

 fusciis. — Every autumn since I was a boy, and probably for 

 centuries before that, as October came round, so did the 

 annually recurring passage of Gulls attract attention on the 

 rounded coast of Norfolk. Again and again have I heard 

 visitors to Cromer ask where they were going, and why they 

 all went the same way. At length their mysterious move- 

 ments attracted the attention of Dr. B. B. Riviere, in whom 

 their journey ings have at last found a capable exponent.* 



In the first place Dr. Riviere finds that, although the Gulls 

 travel westward against the wind during a considerable 

 part of the day, there is a return movement, which, com- 

 mencing very early in the morning (even before daylight) 

 has been overlooked. 



It is true it is a movement in much smaller numbers than 

 the westerly flight, but its direction is distinctly eastward, 

 and it would seem to begin during the night. Dr. Riviere, 

 who has practically proved this by going to the shore at a 

 very early hour, i.e. before sunrise — holds that this return 

 movement is accounted for by a very large exodus of Gulls 

 trom the extensive mudflats at Morston and Stiffkey where 

 they are known to spend the night, and many probably 

 come from Wells. With the assistance of Lt.-Com. Hamoncl. 

 R.N., who is attached to the North Sea Fishing-Fleet, and 

 who has often worked round the Dogger Bank and down the 

 Norfolk coast. Dr. Riviere has established another point, 

 viz. : — that the passages of Gulls off Yarmouth, Winterton, 

 Cromer and Blakeney coincide with the duration of the 

 herring fishery season, and from the same source he learns 

 that Gulls attend the fleet on the fishing grounds in enormous 

 numbers. As regards any attempt to count them, that is 

 difficult, for when they pass Cromer or Cley they seem to 

 go on in an almost unending sequence. I have tried to guess 

 at their numbers by reckoning so many flocks per minute, 

 and once stood on the shore at Overstrand doing so for two 

 weary hours. Dr. Riviere has attempted the same method, 

 and has arrived at totals of between fifteen and twenty 

 thousand, indeed on one occasion, he and Mr. A. F. vSherlock 

 obtained the astounding total of 72,000 Gulls ! This was 

 their considered estimate of a passage which took place at 



* See Norwich Naturalists' Trans., VoL XI., pp. 104-127. 



