NOTES AND QUERIES. 397 
the same nest. We had a good opportunity of noticing the wonderful 
variations in the colouring of the eggs, from a pale straw-colour to every 
shade of a rich olive-brown, and one very beautiful variety had the appear- 
ance of being scorched and smoked, while the ground colour of this egg 
was a lovely pale green. In many instances the young birds were already 
hatched, and seemed quite able to run and swim as soon as they got their 
plumage dry after emerging from the egg. On being approached they at 
once put themselves in a defensive attitude. One particularly early bird 
was almost as large as the parents, having the quill-feathers already half 
grown; and this bird, when lifted up, made noise enough to summon the 
whole colony to his assistance. We made a careful estimate of the 
number of gulls on this bog,—a very difficult matter, as they were going 
and coming, bringing food for the young, from all sides, —and we were 
pretty well agreed that not less than eight thousand were in sight at once. 
The “ White Crows,” by which name they are known to the country people, 
begin to appear on the breeding-ground during the first week in March, 
and on the 12th of August—when the bog is shot over for Grouse—not 
one is to be seen. I noticed a good many birds in the second year’s 
plumage, having the brown bands on the wings and tail, and, being curious 
to ascertain if they were breeding, I secured one, and was surprised to find 
the hatching spots on the breast quite bare of feathers. I afterwards dis- 
sected the bird, and found eggs the size of buckshot in the ovary, with 
every appearance of the bird having laid. From this it would appear that 
the Blackheaded Gull sometimes breeds in the second year, although it is 
generally supposed that they do not do so until they attain their full 
plumage, in the third year. I may add that this particular specimen had 
not even the full black head, the forehead being dappled with white. I am 
glad to say that in this privileged spot the birds are rigidly protected by 
order of Mr. Reginald Digby, of Geashill Castle, who takes a keen interest 
in Natural History, and will allow no one on the bog without his written 
permission: thus the gulls increase and multiply in perfect security, and, 
from what one of the watchers told me, they have become much more 
numerous during the last few years. There certainly were about three 
times as many birds breeding than on the occasion of a previous visit in 
the year 1880. Amongst other birds which breed on this bog are Grouse, 
Teal (in numbers), Wild Duck, Curlew (a pair), Redshank, and Meadow 
Pipit. Tullamore is just on the verge of the range of the Jay in Ireland, 
as Mr. Digby informed me three or four pairs breed annually in Clonad 
Wood, just in view of the bog, but apparently are not increasing. —EpwarpD 
Wituiams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
Training Swallows as Letter Carriers.—‘ The Globe’ of the 22nd 
August last contains the following remarks from a correspondent in Paris:— 
