2 COWARD, Change in Habits of the Black-headed Gull. 



and many people imagined that they remembered the 

 welcome that they had received, failing to realise that the 

 numbers had increased and that the birds' winter range 

 was extended. 



For many years after this the appearance of the bird, 

 or of any gulls inland, was thought to be either an indi- 

 cation of rough weather at sea or an augury of storm. 

 Judging from remarks which appear in the press from 

 time to time, this idea still prevails to some extent. 

 Whatever may have been the case prior to this time, the 

 presence of gulls inland is mainly if not entirely due to 

 one of two facts — the increase in numbers enforcing an 

 enlarged feeding area, or to passage migration. Every 

 spring and autumn large numbers of Black-headed and 

 lesser Black-backed Gulls travel through England, as well 

 as along the coasts, and other species pass, though not in 

 such noticeable numbers. The Black-headed Gull, though 

 abundant all the year round, is one of our most migratory 

 birds, but there is apparently no racial custom nor heredi- 

 tary family tradition to regulate whether the birds from 

 any particular area shall winter at home or travel to the 

 Mediterranean or African shores. 



The colonial nesting haunts of the species are marshes, 

 islands on lakes, or saltings ; the first two may be miles 

 from the sea and at considerable altitude. There are 

 numerous and extensive colonies on the Fennines, the 

 Welsh moors, the Cheviots and the Lake Country uplands. 

 Others are on low-lying marshes either near the sea or 

 inland ; the only large Cheshire colony is in the most 

 open but least frequented portion of Delamere Forest. 

 Some of the Cumberland and Lancashire colonies are 

 amongst sandhills, and at least two in the latter county 

 are on tidal saltings, where, as a rule, at least once during 

 the nesting season the whole marsh is submerged, swamp- 



