THE SEA-FLIERS. 1 97 



without effort perform a variety of pleasing evolutions during their flight. In some of the Swiss 

 cantons, and in all parts of Southern Europe lying near the sea, they are treated by the inhabitants 

 as if half domesticated. They may be seen everywhere, running about with the greatest confidence, 

 as if they knew very well that no one would attempt to do them an injur}'. Their voice is harsh 

 and disagreeable, earning for them doubtless the name of Sea Crows, whereby they are generally 

 designated. Towards the end of April the breeding season commences, and after much quarrelling 

 the place selected where each pair is to build its nest. These birds never breed separately, seldom 

 in small parties, but most generally in large flocks, of hundreds or rather thousands of birds, which 

 generally crowd themselves together into a very limited space. Their nests are usually placed upon 

 insulated patches of ground surrounded by water, or situated in the centre of a marsh, and overgrown 

 with sedges, reeds, and rushes ; under some circumstances they will build in the marsh itself, 

 sheltering their nests among tufts of grass, but always in some unfrequented situation, to which access 

 is nearly impracticable. The foundation of the nest is laid by flattening down the herbage and lining 

 the cavity so formed with leaves, straw, and similar materials. The eggs, which are deposited about 

 the beginning of May, to the number of four or five in each nest, are tolerably large, of a pale olive- 

 green colour, speckled, spotted, and streaked with ashy-grey and dark brownish grey, but the eggs 

 vary considerably both in size, colour, and markings. The two sexes brood alternately, one 

 or other of them remaining constantly upon the nest during the night, but in the day-time they 

 seem to think the heat of the sun an efficient substitute for their presence. After the lapse of 

 about eighteen days the young make their appearance, and in about three or four weeks afterwards 

 are completely fledged. In situations where the nests are surrounded by water the young ones do 

 not leave them during the first few days, but if they are situated upon dry ground the little nestlings 

 scramble out and run about very actively. When a fortnight old they are able to flutter from place 

 to place, and at the end of the third week are almost able to take care of themselves. The courage 

 with which the parents defend their young is most exemplary. No sooner does an enemy in the 

 shape of a Hawk, a Crow, or a Heron make its appearance, than a tremendous outcry is raised by 

 the whole colony, even the brooding birds leave their nests, and all rush forward to oppose the 

 invader. A dog or fox they attack with equal fury. Should a man intrude upon them they fly 

 around him in circles, screaming with all their might, and if, deafened by the noise, he retires, he is 

 followed to some distance, with every indication of joy at his departure. 



In the north of Germany it is common on a certain day to have a general battue, and slaughter 

 the poor Gulls by wholesale. This useless destruction, which, under the name of " the Gull-shooting," 

 serves as an excuse for a general holiday, savours much of the barbarism of the Dark Ages ; as, far 

 from being pernicious, these beautiful birds render important services to the farmers by clearing the 

 land of a vast quantity of hurtful insects. 



THE GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL. 

 The Great Black-headed Gull (Chroicocep/ialus ichthya'etus) in its summer plumage has the 

 entire head and upper neck black, the feathered orbits white, back and wing blue-grey, upper tail- 

 covers and tail pure white, with a black band, primaries with a black band, increasing in width to 

 the outermost one, which has the whole of the web black, the rest of the first five primaries white, the 

 others grey, tipped with white ; the other parts of the plumage are pure white ; bill red, yellow at tip ; 

 irides brown; feet dull red ; length about twenty-six inches; wing nineteen to twenty inches; tail seven 

 inches ; bill at front two inches and a quarter ; tarsus three inches ; the closed wing extends about one 

 inch and a half beyond the tail. This bird inhabits Northern and Central Asia, and is rare in India. 

 Jerdon observed it on the sea-coast at Madras, and occasionally ascending the Hooghly and other 



