MU. J. H. GURNEY, JUN., ON GULLS ON TUE NORFOLK COAST. 329 
miles of ground, for they would naturally follow the east coast as 
long as the wind lasted. 
To show how prevalent westerly winds are with us, it is only 
necessary to refer to the Meteorological table annually contributed 
to the pages of our ‘ Transactions ’ by Mr. A. W. Preston, in 
which the direction of the wind is noted from the vane on the 
spire of Norwich Cathedral. In 1883 we had, in Norfolk, one 
hundred and seventy-three days of wind from the west, south-west, 
or north-west; in 1884 we had one hundred and si.\ty-five ; and 
in 1885 we had one hundred and forty -seven (Trans. Norfolk and 
Norwich Nat. Soc. vol. iii. p. 046, iv. pp. 73, 238). The return 
for 1880 is not published, hut I learn from Mr. Preston that the 
number of days on which there were westerly winds was one 
hundred and seventy. 
The mudtlats in the Wash are very extensive, and make a line 
harbour of refuge for Gulls ; but many of the Gidls which ptiss 
Cromer go, apparently, no further than Wells (which is twenty 
miles), as I gather from the observations of Colonel Feilden, who 
has at times noted “ legions ” on the wide “ binks” there, doubtless 
sheltering from a westerly wind, and their natural dislike to Hying 
iidand — the only course left open to them if they continue on the 
wing (Colonel Feilden, m WC). 
The mouth of the Humber is another resort. Mr. W. E. Clarke 
reports that during strong westerly and south-westerly winds he has 
known numbers to collect in the lower part of the Humber estuary, 
and that on these occasions there are often, at low water, thousands 
ashore on “ the clays.” 
He has observed that with a south-east wind they go south. 
In the same locality, Mr. J. Cordeaux has obseired them going 
south in large numbers against a south-west wind (Sixth Eeport on 
^ligmtion, p. 05). 
They have been seen repeatedly flying against a due south wind, 
as, for example, at Orfordness (Sixth Report on Migration, p. 65), 
at Flamborough (Fifth Report, j). 54), at Whitby (Fourth 
Report, p. 45), and at Yarmouth, on October 16th, 1880 
(G. Smith, in litt.). 
Rut w’hether it is south, south-east, or south-west, it seems clear 
that ofl' no part of the east coast of Britain do they fly south 
