BL A C K- 1 1 E A DE D G U LL. 
3 
the ordinary colouring. Bepcatcdly at this station and also at Loch Doula, as well as in othei Highland colonies, 
I noticed eggs in the nests of very light tints of greenish brown and sometimes blue, but never met with 
others without some few spots or clouded markings. 
While collecting in tlie Western Highlands in the summer of 18G8, I thoroughly explored the wild district 
around Loch Alaree, making my way into many of the remotest glens : during my wanderings I was infoimed 
by the keepers at Letterewe that these Gulls had regularly nested at TiOch Gnrvaig*; this lonely sheet of 
water was situated near the foot of the western slopes of Ben Slioch and shut in on all sides by high mountains , 
it was discovered, however, on visiting their usual breeding-haunts on the 5th of June, that there was not a 
Black-headed Gull to be seen about the loch. The cause of their disappearance was quite unintelligible, as 
they had never suffered the least persecution, nor had their nests been robbed to any extent ; it was doubtful, 
indeed, if even a few eggs had been taken, so inaccessible was the spot the birds had selected, and such an 
unfailing supply of the eggs of the larger Gulls being always at hand on the islands of Loch Maree to supply 
the wants of the crofters. Shortly after our departure on this occasion, a heavy storm accompanied by a deluge 
of rain broke over the district, and flooded many of the breeding-quarters of Gulls, Ducks, and Divers, 
destroying thousands of nests. If one species could possibly have been impressed by an inkling of impending 
danger, and induced to change their quarters, why should not the others have received a similar wmrning? Ihe 
previous year I became aware of the disappearance of the Sand-Atartins from an island in the river Lyon, in the 
west of Perthshire, and early in June a terrible tliunderstorm with a heavy downfall of rain among the 
mountains in the upper part of the glen caused a spate that flooded the whole of the island on which the birds 
usually remained to rear their young, to the depth of between two and three feetf. 
In the east of Norfolk I learned from the marshmen who had passed their lives fishing and shooting on 
the Broads about Potter Ileigham and Hickling that Black -headed Gulls had formerly bred on one or two of 
the hills surrounding the latter piece of water, though they had now (1870) entirely ceased to remain and construct 
their nests. Numbers eontinued to fly about the Broads during the summer months ; these, however, all 
exhibiting full adult plumage, were without doubt breeding birds from Scoulton Alere or some other smaller 
stations induced to wing their way to these attractive waters by the abundance of food to be obtained. After 
the bird-protection act came in force, and the shooting in spring of certain species was prohibited by law^, many 
more of these Gulls put in an appearance, and I heard that two or three pairs had returned and taken up their 
quarters on one of the hills adjoining Hiekling Broad. Tlie men who made these statements were uncertain 
whether the young had been reared or even hatched out, and I could gain no farther information on the subject 
beyond the fact that no nests were built the following year. In 1883 I remained for some months in this 
part of Norfolk, and in the end of June noticed a nest on “ Swimeoats,” a hill on the west side of the Broad ; 
this was built in one of the slades among the strong stems of a large tuft of rushes, at a height of about 
fourteen or sixteen inches from the ground, and had probably been constructed at the time when heavy rains 
having fallen, a flood had raised the water above its usual height on that part of the marsh. There were neither 
eo-o-s nor young, and it would have been strange if the Black Crowds that frequented the plantations round the 
Broad and daily hunted over the hills had allowed the contents of a solitary nest to escape their attentions. 
Again, in 1885, I closely searched the old haunts of this species, but discovered no signs of their presence ; the 
natives also had failed to observe more than the usual complement of visitors from other quarters hovering 
over the waters of the Broad or flitting round the pools and slades on the hills. 
Never having kept Black-headed Gulls in confinement for any length of time, I cannot state with certainty 
the age at which the perfect adult plumage is assumed. The various stages in wliich this species is to be seen 
* Gurvaig is the name given to this loch in Black's map of Scotland ; by the natives of the district, however, I remarked that it was always 
spoken of as Loch Garavach. 
t This circumstance is referred to in ‘ Bough Notes ’ under tlie heading of the “ Sand-ilartin,” on pages 1 and 2. 
