THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 415 



feathers were shot with an intense pink, and the primaries also ; even the 

 tube or quill part of the feathers was quite pink. I never saw so good 

 a one. This lovely hue, however, vanishes soon after death. 



With reference to the hood (which is brown, and not black)^ and the 

 winter bird mentioned above, there is something which requires investigation. 

 A similar thing is mentioned in Newton's ' Yarrell' (vol. i. p. 422) concerning 

 the Blackcap (^Sylvia atricapilld). But the subject requires more careful 

 study than I can give it at present. 



One of the most delightful things to me is to hear the birds wake in 

 the morning ; and I particularly enjoy the first notes of the Thrush. This 

 fellow catches the early worm. But what a pleasure it would be to see the 

 sun rise at Scoulton, and with it the Gulls ; for sweet is 



" The breatli of morn, wlien she ascends 

 With charm of earliest birds/^ 



Milton : Paradise Lost, Book iv. 



The shades of evening were falling fast, the last party of Gulls 

 had returned to their island-home, the Snipes had settled upon their 

 nests, and the old Swan gathered her dusky cygnets under her fostering 

 wings with affectionate solicitude ; then it was that we turned our backs 

 upon this lovely spot, weary in body, but with mind refreshed. The 

 gathering vapours reminded us that the Bailiff of Marshland (as fenmen 

 call the ague), though now no more, might yet grimly rise from his 

 grave. Far better would it be to become shrouded in "the Eynd, or 

 water-smoke'' of Norfolk— a " sea-fret'' less dangerous— than to have 

 an interview with the bailiff. Taking, therefore, one more fond look at 

 the far-off carp*, whose splash in the broad water proved how fishful 



^ A pike was caught, not long since, with a carp of 2 lb. inside him, as told me by the 

 keeper. The pikes, however, do not, as far as is known, devour the young gulls j neither do hawks 

 attack the old ones. 



VOL. II. ^ K 



