140 
NATURE A T 0TES. 
capacities of our being, and it is alone to the united influence 
of religion, literature and nature that we must look for the 
preservation of our moral nobility. Whenever, therefore, I 
behold one of our old field-paths closed, I regard it as another 
link in the chain which Mammon is winding around us, another 
avenue cut off by which we might fly to the lofty sanctuary of 
Nature for power to withstand him." 
THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
URING the last week in April, I was fortunate enough 
to obtain an order enabling me to visit Twigmore, the 
place in North Lincolnshire where the black-headed 
gulls breed — here strictly preserved, and in private 
grounds. As many of the readers of this Magazine will know, the 
black-headed gull only frequents the sea-shore during the winter 
months, and for the spring and summer comes inland, feeds as 
do the rooks, and breeds in great colonies at a few places, Twig- 
more being one of the most important. The bird is about the 
size of a rook, but grey, and in Lindsey is called the White Crow. 
The head feathers (after the second year) are black during sum- 
mer, but in winter become white. The breeding place at Twig- 
more is a marsh, surrounded by rushes, situated in a wood 
some little distance from the Brigg and Messingham high road. 
The gulls are there in thousands, flying overhead, swimming in 
the water, or running about the margin, and their screaming 
can be heard more than a mile away. The nests among the 
rushes, and all about the edge of the water, are little more than 
hollows in the ground, and so close together that it is difficult to 
walk without treading in them. To keep down the number of 
birds several thousand eggs are taken yearly. They are, it is 
rather remarkable, a great delicacy, not unlike those of the 
plover, only somewhat larger. Each hen bird lays three, which 
vary considerably both in colour and markings, some being quite 
blue or green, others of the darkest brown. The birds fly great 
distances from home, and there is hardly a field in North 
Lincolnshire which has not during spring one or more gulls 
feeding in it. It is a lovely sight to see them following the 
plough on the red iron soil in company with the rooks. They 
may be easily domesticated, and will live happily in a garden, 
where, in a few days, they become tame enough to sit on the 
gardener’s spade, and almost troublesome in the way they dodge 
about his feet, picking out the worms he digs up. We had a 
young one once which died from over-eating itself in this way, but 
during its lifetime it was a most amusing pet. It would swim 
in the water-butt, or follow us about the garden like a dog, and 
was a general favourite. 
W. M. E. Fowler. 
