in some cases, portions of the egg-shells still adhering to 

 their down. 



To convey some idea of the numbers of these Gulls 

 that nest at Scoulton I condense the following notes by 

 H. Stevenson, quoted in ' Yarrell,' 4th ed. : — " Two men 

 are employed to collect three days a week, picking up 

 every egg they can find, and generally at the rate of 

 from 1500 to 2000 a day; but when in full laying and 

 left undisturbed for two clear days, between 3000 and 

 4000 have been taken in one day. From 10,000 to 

 20,000 eggs have been obtained in this manner in 

 different seasons. In 1870 the eggs sold on the spot at 

 9d. to Is. a score." 



Some years ago I received several of the species alive 

 from the owner of another celebrated colony in Lincoln- 

 shire ; two pairs of these Gulls nested and reared 

 respectively three and two young in my aviaries at 

 Lilford. I have met with this species during the winter 

 months in all parts of the western Mediterranean, but 

 never found it breeding on any of the shores of that sea. 



