If we adopt the opinion of some naturalists, that the ovarium 

 of a bird contains from its creation all the eggs which it is 

 to lay through life, then how soon must these persecuted 

 Gulls be rendered barren and unproductive ? perhaps even 

 before they have once had the pleasure of bringing up a family 

 of young ones. 



The nest of the Black-headed Gull is built upon the 

 ground, of dried grass loosely put together, and contains 

 three eggs, differing much in shape, colour, and marking, as 

 the accompanying Plate will show. It begins to breed to- 

 wards the end of April or early in May. 



