VOL. vn.] LETTERS. 243 



With regard to the number of eggs laid by terns, it maj' be 

 interesting to note that whilst in Iceland this summer we saw 

 hundreds, if not thousands, of Arctic Terns' nests in all stages of 

 incubation, but not twenty contained so many as three eggs. 



Temple Combe, Henlby-on-Thames. Heatley Noble. 



HERRING-GULLS DIVING. 

 To the Editors of British Blrds. 



Sirs, — ^The Scarborough Herring-Gulls, which frequent the harbour 

 in considerable, and increasing, numbers, have acquired the habit 

 of diving for food in the manner described by Mr. S. G. Cummings 

 {antea, p. 201). The plunge much resembles that of one of the terns, 

 the bird diving from a height of several yards, with outstretched 

 neck and half-closed wings. Sometimes the bird is completely sub- 

 merged, but more often the tips of the primaries are not covered by 

 the water. I have not seen the Common or Black-headed Gulls, 

 which are equally abundant, attempt to dive for food. 



SoABBOROTJGH, December 5th, 1913. W. J. Clarke. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — I have, during the past summer, frequently watched 

 Herring-Gulls, particularly immature birds, submerging themselves 

 in the manner described by Mr. Cummings, in Beer Bay, South 

 Devon. Through the village runs a very swift-flowing stream, 

 which, at a short distance from the beach, is confined in a large 

 pipe from which it does not escape until some distance out to sea. 

 The reason I had assigned for the diving tactics of the gulls was, 

 that the "tit-bits" being carried along for some distance under 

 water by the force of the stream, the bird which could secure them 

 at the point nearest the pipe, and consequently furthest from the 

 surface, was likely to reap the reward of his daring. I have also 

 watched, and been much amused by, the futile and somewhat 

 inelegant efforts of Herring-Gulls at this spot to dive, like a grebe, 

 from the surface — ^without the initial tern-like plunge. 



Lewis R. W. Loyd. 



Maida Vale, London, W., December 8th, 1913. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — I have often stood and watched the Herring-Gulls diving 

 in deep water in Lerwick Harbour, in exactly the same manner as 

 described by Mr. S. G. Cummings. John S. Txjlloch. 



Leog, Lerwick, December 6th, 1913. 



