22 



NOTE BOTANY. 



LITTLE GULLS AT FLAMBOROUG-H HEAD. 



J. H. GURNEY, JuNR., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., 



Norihrepps, NoTivich. 



On August 5th I obtained a Little Gull {Larus mimiius)2X Flamborough 

 Head. When freshly killed the roseate tint of the under parts was very 

 delicate. It was shot by T. Leng, who brought in at the same time 

 a great number of Kittiwakes, with which I suppose it was consorting. 

 The next day Mr. M. Bailey shot another, and saw a third. Mr. 

 Bailey's, which he has been good enough to make me a present of, 

 is an adult with a white tail and beautiful black collar and red legs, 

 the occiput and part of the crown being also black. It is probably 

 quite as old as the female in perfect breeding plumage which was 

 shot by him on July 12th, 1868 (Zoologist, p. 1379), and if it 

 had been killed three weeks earlier would have had an entirely black 

 head. So many Little Gulls have been killed at Flamborough and 

 its vicinity at one time and another, that they have ceased to be much 

 novelty there. I presume it is partly because they are attracted by 

 the breeding Kittiwakes, but no doubt it is also the result of the 

 slaughter which goes on among these birds for the supplying of the 

 plume trade, the Little Gulls generally being in their company when 

 shot. If they exhibit no more fear of man than the unfortunate 

 Kittiwakes, it is no wonder they are killed. Yet neither the presence 

 of the Kittiwakes, nor the amount of shooting which goes on, could 

 account for the occurrence of thirty Little Gulls in Bridlington Bay, 

 in February 1870. These (like the Pomatorhine Skuas on another 

 occasion) must have been simply storm-driven birds, perhaps seeking 

 the shelter afforded by the promontory of Flamborough. But, what- 

 ever be the cause, the fact remains that the Yorkshire coast has 

 produced more Little Gulls than any other place — and it is a very 

 singular and interesting one. There is a great deal yet to be learnt 

 about the movements of Gulls, and what we call the accidental 

 appearance or abundance of different species, rare or common, may 

 be accounted for in a way hitherto little considered — viz., by wind 

 and a knowledge of its effects. 



NOTE— BOTANY. 



Bee Orchis in Craven.— On July 24th Mr. W. Eade found a specimen 

 of the Bee Orchis {Ophrys apifem Huds.) between Stirton and Gargrave. This 

 plant was, I believe, fairly common round Skipton in certain localities some twenty 

 years ago, but has been lost sight of altogether until last year. — T. W. Edmondson, 

 Skipton-in-Craven, August 4th, 1886. 



Naturalist, 



