NOTES AND QUERIES. 233 



' Zoologist,' p. 317, 1915) as to whether the Cuckoo ever deposits 

 its egg in a nest before the first egg of the foster-parents' clutch has 

 actually been laid therein. — J. Steele Elliott. 



Gulls in Bedfordshire. — One would think this county too remote 

 from the sea for very frequent observations on any of the Gull family, 

 but yet they occur by no means uncommonly, and evidently in 

 increasing numbers ; hence I desire to put on record their present- 

 day status in this locality. The Great Black-backed Gull (Larus 

 marinus) is certainly a rarity, and I think it has been almost 

 invariably obtained in immature plumage ; these birds are probably 

 always storm-driven visitors. Four instances are recorded in the 

 ' Victorian History of Bedfordshire' (p. 134), and another was killed 

 at Wootton, February 27th, 1905. The Lesser Black-backed Gull 

 (L.fuscus) and Herring Gull (L. argentatus) are commonly observed, 

 more particularly during their migratory nights in April and May and 

 again in September and October. They are then generally seen in 

 small parties. There is evidently a well-used flight-line running S.W. 

 to N.E. across the county. The two species seem to occur in about 

 equal numbers. The Kittiwake (Bissa tridactyla) only occurs when 

 forced inland by stress of stormy weather, and so is practically 

 restricted to the winter months. Those seen are usually solitary 

 birds, and are frequently in a very exhausted condition. The Common 

 Gull (Larus canus) was once considered one of the rarer Gulls visiting 

 this county, and the record was more particularly of solitary birds 

 occurring during the winter months. But in February, 1912, several 

 hundreds appeared together at Newnham, and remained for several 

 days (' Zool.,' 1912, p. 232), and another considerable migration is 

 recorded under the next species. The Black-headed Gull (Larus 

 ridibundus) has always been a very frequent visitor both in winter 

 and on migration, so much so that it was formerly known as the 

 " Cordy Mordy," although no doubt other Gulls came under the same 

 name. In the spring small flocks remain for a week or more at a 

 time, and often vary in number from day to day. By far the largest 

 flock that I have ever seen or heard of occurred during the present 

 Spring, along with large numbers of Common Gulls. Several Black- 

 headed Gulls were to be seen at Newnham from March 13th to 17th, 

 and on March 15th and following day about 200 Gulls were reported 

 to me on the fields alongside the Eiver Ivel at Blunham, some seven 

 miles distant. On March 26th my son and I counted 275 Gulls 

 together on the Biver Ouse meadows at Fenlake, and there were 

 probably over 300 in all scattered about the meadows between there 

 Zool. <kth ser., vol. XX., June, 1916. T 



