192 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
Sus-ramity LARINAG. 
BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
Larus RIDIBUNDUS, Linn. 
Pl. XXXIIL., figs. 1, 2. 
Geogr. distr.— Western Europe to Eastern Asia and Scandinavia to 
Northern Africa, in suitable localities. In Great Britain if is common, 
widely distributed, and resident, breeding in Northumberland, Durham, 
Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Essex and Kent; also abundantly in Ireland 
and Scotland. 
Food.—Small fish, frogs, insects in all stages, and worms. 
Nest.—Fairly well made of reeds and dried grass. 
Position of nest.—On the ground or on beaten-down rushes on 
islets well surrounded by water in inland lakes and marshes. 
Number of eggs.—3-4; usually 3. 
Time of nidification.—IV-V. 
Mr. Seebohm tells us that ‘the most celebrated breed- 
ing place of the Black-headed Gull in the British Islands is 
Scoulton Mere, not far from Higham in Norfolk. The 
lake is entirely surrounded by plantations of oak, beech, 
Scotch fir, and spruce-fir. It covers about 150 acres, but 
70 acres of this area are taken up with a large island upon 
which the gullery is situated. The colony consists of about 
8000 birds, and is said to be gradually increasing in size.” 
“The part of the island where the Gulls breed consists 
of a few acres of swampy ground, thinly sprinkled over with 
flags and coarse grass, in which the nests are placed, and 
planted here and there with clumps of low birches and 
willows. When I visited this gullery in company with Mr. 
Bidwell on the evening of the 13th of last May (1884), the 
swamp was crowded with birds, which looked very con- 
spicuous amongst the flag and sedge. As we neared the 
island thousands rose from the ground, and before we 
landed, the air was one mass of birds, wheeling round and 
round in interlacing circles, whilst their cries were in- 
cessant. After selecting a few eggs we recrossed to the 
margin of the lake, and watched the seething mass of 
birds. It was a most animating sight.”—(Hist. Brit. Birds, 
vol. iii., pp. 811, 312.) 
