9712 Birds. 



in festoons about the nest, as the wool did in the first case. In both 

 instances it was the fringe of wool and of lace and ribbon that made 

 the nest so conspicuous. 



John Ranson. 



York, June, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire. 

 By John Cordeaux, Esq. 



(Conliuued from page 9G63). 



June and July, 1865. 



Blackheaded Gull. — Were it not for these gulls June and July 

 would be almost barren months in H umber Ornithology. Day after 

 day I have carefully examined with my landscape-glass the dreary 

 mud plains left exposed by the falling tide, and with the exception of 

 blackheaded gulls, an occasional curlew or a small flock of dunlins, 

 have not seen a trace of biid-life. The peewit gull is unquestion- 

 ably the gull of the Humber, far surpassing in numbers any other 

 species frequenting these shores. They are much more numerous, 

 however, during the spring and autuuni than in the winter months. 

 During the last week in May and early in June these gulls will return 

 to the marsh district adjoining the Humber, coming from their breeding- 

 places on the inland meres. At first a few old birds make their 

 appearance, these daily increase in number until they amount to 

 considerable flocks ; these flocks, however, consist entirely of old 

 biids, and it is not till about the last week in June that the young 

 gulls arrive; by the first week in July they attain their maximum. 

 Any day in this month flocks containing several hundreds both of 

 young and old birds may be seen in the marsh district. They in- 

 variably prefer a dry and level fallow lield ; here they will often con- 

 tinue all day, basking in the bright sunshine, day after day 'returning 

 to the same spot, which in time, from the quantity of feathers scattered 

 about and the slight inequalities of the surface made by the gulls, 

 resembles the place frequented by a covey of partridges. The gulls 

 always sit with their heads turned to the wiud. In rainy weather, and 

 at such times when the fallows are wet, they resort to the grass lauds. 

 It is a pretty sight to see a flock of tiiese gulls thus nesting ; their pure 

 unsullied plumage and dark brown heads contrasting with the bright 

 green herbage. From not being molested they are unusually tame, 

 frequently permitting me, when on horseback, to approach within a 



