Bolam: The Natural History of Hornsea Mere. 67 
sometimes a dozen or more, were often to be seen on the 
Mere. 
CoMMON GULL.—A pair or two of adults are seldom absent 
from the Mere, and there are often a few immature birds 
about. Three adults were here on 21st April, and several on 
ist May and other days. 
HERRING GULL.—Never absent during my stay, when large 
flocks often arriving and departing, Flamborough way ; 
washing themselves in the Mere, sitting on neighbouring 
fields, fishing, etc. There were both adults and immature 
birds, the former being the more numerous. 
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.—Very frequently seen with 
the Herring Gulls, both adults and immature ; seldom less than 
a few pairs about the Mere, most of them being in nearly 
mature dress—probably in their last year of adolescence. 
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.—On Ist May two pairs were 
on the Mere, one nearly adult, the other not quite so far 
advanced. Four similar birds were seen again on 25th May. 
Others, or the same birds, were noticed at different times 
later, but there were never more than four together, and no 
adults. 
KITTIWAKE.—A young bird, alone and very tame, was on 
the Mere on 22nd April. It was not seen again, nor were any 
others. i 
GREAT CRESTED GREBE.—There have always been a few 
nests of these on the Mere. About thirty years ago there 
were only a pair or two of the birds, but under Taylor’s pro- 
tection they have increased, and some ten years later there 
were eight nests in one season, arecord that has not since been 
equalled. Latterly, there has seldom been more than three 
nests. There were at least three pairs, and probably four, 
of the birds on the Mere this year when I arrived on 2oth 
April, and in any case the number very soon increased, for 
a month later there were six or seven pairs at least. I saw 
only four nests with eggs, but not wishing to disturb the place 
unnecessarily, I never systematically hunted for them, and 
it was scarcely more than accidentally that those seen were 
found. One of the nests was at the Hornsea end of the Mere, 
in the bed of ‘ flagging’ opposite the outlet—a site that is 
generally tenanted by at least a pair of the birds. Another 
was off the Heronry Wood, and the remaining two in Heslop’s 
reeds, within fifteen yards of one another. The bays of the 
latter reed-bed have always been the most favoured nesting 
site, several nests being sometimes seen here in close proximity 
to each another. In addition to these four nests I saw the 
newly-hatched young—four of them—from a nest near the 
entrance to the boat-house channel, and I was aware that 
there was another in the bay behind the Lady Island, and a 
1913 Jan. 1 
