102 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vni. 



a nest containing tliree eggs of tlie Common Gull [Larus 

 canus) the identity of which is, to my mind, certain, as 

 both the old birds were seen standing beside the nest, from 

 a distance of less than twenty yards, and both Mr. Johnston 

 and Mr. Storey are well versed in all Solway birds and know 

 tlie Common Gull well. The nest Avas isolated, and rather 

 a large structure ; it was placed on the side of a creek 

 some miles from the nearest nestmg-site of L. ridibundus. 

 The nest can now be seen in Carlisle Museum. 



One or both of the old birds have been seen several times 

 since, and Mr. Johnston feels certain that they have bred 

 again, but has failed to locate their new nesting-site. 



I have personally seen both the clutch of eggs and the 

 nesting-site, and feel quite confident in the matter, as the 

 eggs of the Common Gull cannot easily be confused with 

 those of any other British breeding gull. Unfortunately 

 I did not see the gulls themselves during the short time 

 at my disposal, but I am certam no mistake has been 

 made in the identification. 



This makes the second nestmg site of L. canus in 

 England {vide A Handlist of British Birds, p. 200). 



F. W. Smalley. 



MOORHEN COVERING EGGS. 



When reading Mr. J. H. Owen's note on page 54, it struck 

 me that such an occurrence was scarcely worth recording, 

 and I am rather surprised to read that Mr. Jourdain (page 80) 

 considers it unusual for the Moorhen to cover her eggs. 

 I have always considered this quite a common habit of the 

 Moorhen, if she has time to cover her eggs before danger 

 approaches too near. Last June I came across two Moor- 

 iiens' nests and in each case the eggs were carefulh^ covered 

 with grass and water weed. John R. B. Masefield. 



[We think that Mr. Masefield's experience must be 

 exceptional, and we should Hke to have the opinions of 

 others on the subject. The proportion of nests with covered 

 eggs to those with uncovered eggs should be stated. — Eds.] 



DESTRUCTION OF GROUSE IN A STORM IN 

 YORKSHIRE. 



After numerous mquiries in search of evidence as to damage 

 occasioned by the fall of ice on July 2nd {antea, p. 67), I have 

 received some interestmg information from Thomas Whitwell, 

 Mr. E. B. Emerson's keeper on Swainby Moor, who states 



