336 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE. 
the village of Hurn. Mr. Leigh thinks that there were a 
few nests here in 1903, as the birds were about all the 
summer. 
No previous list of Hampshire birds has included this 
bird as a nesting species. 
Large numbers come inland in winter, and many visit 
the estuaries, where, it must be admitted, they take their 
toll of the young fish. 
Others feed in the freshly-ploughed fields, and others 
again visit the sewage-farm near Winchester, and follow 
up the valley of the Itchen, or spread northwards in large 
flocks as far as Micheldever and Whitchurch. Mr. Chalkley, 
the Winchester naturalist, is of opinion that by far the 
larger number of the gulls which frequent the Itchen 
valley in winter belong to this species, though common 
gulls and kittiwakes are often mingled with them. 
Munn also considers that the same proportion holds 
good in the valley of the Test, where, however, they are 
never by any means so numerous as in the Itchen valley. 
The black, or rather brown, hood is assumed in March 
and April. 
A specimen was killed on November ist, 1894, by 
flying against Freefolk Manor farm-house. 
268. Larus minutus. Little Gull. 
A rare occasional visitor in winter. 
Wise records,! on the authority of Rake, that a pair 
were killed at Breamore in November, 1855. 
The late William Jeffrey informed us that two were 
' '* New Forest." 
