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be met with at all seasons of the year; and large numbers breed in some localities. Mr. A. G. 

 More states (Ibis, 1865, p. 454) that it is more numerous in the north, but that it has breeding- 

 stations in Kent, Essex, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire. The largest of these gulleries is said to be 

 that at Scoulton mere, in Norfolk ; but it appears to be decreasing, — as, according to Lubbock, 

 in 1845, in an average season, about 30,000 eggs were taken; in 1860, according to Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, jun., about 16,000 were gathered; and in 1876, Mr. G. D. Rowley writes (Orn. Misc. ii. 

 p. 408), 6000 were taken. During the winter season this Gull is found all round our coasts, but 

 not so much inland as in the breeding-season. 



Mr. Hancock says (B. of North. & Durh. p. 140), it is " resident and common in North- 

 umberland and Durham, breeding gregariously on the marshy borders of lochs and tarns, and 

 is a great ornament to all wild moorland districts. But it is much to be feared that it will in 

 time be exterminated, as it has fallen into disrepute with the game-preserver. On the 26th of 

 May, 1859, I counted by the margin of Fallowlees, a pool of no great extent, a little south of 

 Simonside, four hundred eggs of this bird ; but now, I believe, it no longer breeds in that 

 locality. A few pairs used to nest at Prestwick Car. It breeds at Harbottle Tarn, at Sweet- 

 hope, and at Pallinsburn ; at the latter place, being well protected, it is as abundant as ever." 

 Mr. Robert Gray writes (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 476) : — " This Gull is very abundant in the west 

 of Scotland, extending to all the outer islands. Its breeding-haunts are also numerous through- 

 out those districts in which it meets with encouragement. I have visited many of these on the 

 mainland, and on both groups of islands, and find a great similarity in choice of situation, con- 

 struction of nests, time of breeding, and general habits of the birds in localities widely apart. 

 The two best known to myself are both within easy reach of Glasgow. One of these interesting- 

 nurseries is on a small marshy islet in Hairlaw Loch, a patch of water, partly artificial, situated 

 near Neilston Pad, which is within full view of the city. There are perhaps from 500 to 800 

 pairs to be found breeding there every year. Another numerous colony of Black-headed Gulls 

 has for many years frequented the Island of Inchmain, on Loch Lomond. This island, which is 

 about two miles in circumference, is quite flat, and stands but little above the level of the water. 

 In wet seasons, therefore, it is to a great extent converted into a wet marsh. About the centre, 

 where the ground is firmer, the Gulls construct their nests, which in some cases measure about 

 eight inches in height, so that the contents are always safe against damp. Here, as well as at 

 Hairlaw, many of the nests contain four eggs, though three is the usual number." Dr. Saxby 

 says that it occurs in Shetland throughout the year, frequenting the lochs near the sea. 



In Ireland, according to Thompson, it is the commonest Gull in Belfast Bay, where it is to 

 be seen throughout the year, except during the breeding-season. It breeds, he says, throughout 

 Ireland in suitable localities ; and several of the larger gulleries are enumerated by him. 



It has not been known to straggle as far as Greenland or Iceland, and is very rare in the 

 Fseroes; but Mr. M tiller found it breeding there in June 1869. In Norway, Mr. Collett informs 

 me, it is rare, and is only found breeding sparingly on small lakes near Stavanger and Bergen. 

 In 1867 it bred in two or three places on Jsederen, near Stavanger, but has not been observed 

 there since. One was shot in 1855 on the Christiania fjord, and one, an immature bird, near 

 Christiania in 1876. In Sweden, Nilsson says, it is almost confined to the southern provinces. 

 It arrives late in March or early in April, and resorts to inland waters to breed; but in the 



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