BREEDING-STATIONS OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 145 



colonised when first flooded by the authorities about 1890.^ 

 An average of fifty pairs bred here until 191 3, when they 

 were disturbed. In 1916 the gulls quitted the islet, and 

 mostly nested on the shore. Two years later hardly a 

 gull remained, nearly all having sought seclusion at Black 

 Linn, near Dunellen Crag (1171 ft.). 



At Black Linn, in 1915, the gulls nested on the rocks, 

 shore, and on the moor — some hundred, pairs. In 1916 

 it was impossible to walk along a part of the margin without 

 treading on the eggs that were littered there. Two years 

 afterwards only a few gulls nested, frequent raids having 

 obliged the gulls to move eastward. In 1920 and 192 1 

 only one nest with eggs was found. The majority settled 

 at Gilshaw Loch, where, in 191 5, the small gullery was rein- 

 forced by others from Cochno Loch and Jaw Loch. In 191 7 

 about thirty pairs bred, and in 1918 and 1919 a decrease is 

 reported to have occurred, but in 192 1 I estimated the number 

 of nesting gulls at sixty or seventy pairs, as the numerous 

 islets of this loch were disclosed by the drying-up during 

 the abnormal climatic conditions that were experienced. 



I wish to take this opportunity of thanking Mr C. A, 

 Hamilton of Barns, Sir Robert Campbell Mackenzie of 

 Edinbarnet, Sir Archibald Campbell, Mr J. Shanks, Mr 

 James Bartholomew, Mr W. Evans, and the other gentlemen 

 without whose co-operation and assistance this paper would 

 have been more incomplete. 



If my remarks have shown the need of adequate pro- 

 tection of this economically important Gull, and enable 

 ornithologists to take a more comprehensive view of the 

 distribution of the species in the Clyde area, my object 

 will have been achieved. 



On the Dark Phase of the Young of the Starling. — In 



i\\e Scottish Naturalist for 191 9, p. 183, Dr Eagle Clarke makes some 

 remarks on the dark phase of the juvenile plumage of the Starling 

 {Sturfius vulgaris) in connection with the then newly separated 

 race, S. v. zetlandicus of Hartert — a race based chiefly on the dark 

 plumage of the young. He states that "similarly coloured birds 



1 Authorised 1887. 



