264 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



Larus ridibundus. 



This Gull is exceedingly abundant on all parts o£ the coast 

 throughout the winter, but does not now breed in the 

 county. It feeds greatly on the cultivated land, where it 

 follows the plough, as the Rooks do, in search of grubs and 

 worms. 



The nearest breeding-places are on Romney Marsh, in 

 Kent, and in the neighbourhood of Poole Harbour, Dorset, 

 but the greater part go to the meres of Norfolk, Lincoln- 

 shire, and Yorkshire, where they assemble in vast numbers, 

 and whence their eggs are every year sent to the London 

 market. 



In some seasons from ten to twenty thousand eggs have 

 been taken. In 1825 they fetched, according to Yarrell 

 (vol. iii. p. 597), ^d. a score; and in 1870 they were sold 

 on the spot at from 9^, to Is. the score. It breeds in many 

 other counties of England and Scotland, and as far north as 

 the Shetland and Faroe Isles. Its note is a hoarse cackle 

 resembling a laugh. It feeds on Crustacea and fish on the 

 coast, and on any floating garbage, moUusks, and insects, 

 frequently visiting pastures, where it finds the crane-fly, 

 of which ib is particularly fond. It also catches chafers on 

 the wing, and will feed on mice and small birds as well as 

 on corn. 



The flight is very beautiful and buoyant. Not long ago 

 I was much interested in watching the evolutions of these 

 Gulls on the Caledonian Canal, where they followed the 

 steamer from Inverness to Fort Augustus. This is also 

 called the Peewit Gull. 



