middle of June : most of these had only one egg In the nest ; but a few of them had two. Their nests are 
made of the tops of reeds and sedge, and are very flat at the surface. The eggs vary so much in size, shape, 
and colour, that a person not well acquainted with them would suppose some of them to belong to a different 
species of bird. Some are thickly covered with dusky spots ; and others are of a light blue colour, without 
any spots at all. The young birds leave the nest as soon as hatched, and take to the water. When they 
can fly well, the old ones depart with them and disperse themselves on the sea-coast, where they are found 
during the autumn and winter. By the middle of July, they all leave Scoulton, and . are not seen there 
again till the following spring. We were a little surprised at seeing some of these Gulls alight and sit upon 
some low bushy willows which grow on the island. No other than the Brown-headed Gull breeds at this 
mere; a few of them also breed in many of the marshes contiguous to the sea-coast of Norfolk.’ 
“ The Rev. Richard Lubbock, who sent me some particulars of this species from Norfolk, mentions that 
he saw several of these birds in June 1841, dashing round some lofty elms catching cockchafers. The eggs 
aie yellowish olive-brown, spotted with two shades of darker brown ; the length two inches one line and a 
half, by one inch and six lines in breadth. When their nests are robbed, the birds are induced to lay two or 
three times ; and Mr. Hewitson mentions that the eggs produced at these second and third layings are some- 
times one third less than the natural size. Mr.Thompson says this species is a constant resident in Ireland. 
Mr. J. Macgillivray noticed that it was abundant in summer on the marshes of some of the islands of the 
Outer Hebrides. It was observed to be plentiful on some of the reedy lochs of Sutherland ; and a few 
breed on the boggy parts of some of the islands of Orkney and Shetland ; but Dr. Fleming mentions that 
these birds leave Scotland in winter. 
“Jills species breeds in Sweden, in Russia, and in Siberia. It is included by several naturalists among 
the birds of Germany. M. Ternminck says it is abundant in Holland at all seasons. It is common on the 
French coast in winter ; and a few of them breed near the lakes and rivers of the interior. It visits Switzerland 
in summer, is not uncommon at Genoa, is included by M. Savi in his ‘ Birds of Italy and the Zoological 
Society have received specimens sent by Keith Abbott, Esq., from Erzeroom.” 
Mr. R, Gray, speaking of this bird as seen by him, says, “ This beautiful Gull is very abundant in the West 
of Scotland, extending to all the outer islands. Its breeding-haunts are also numerous throughout those 
districts in which it meets with encouragement. I have visited many of these on the mainland, and on both 
groups of islands, and find a great similarity in choice of situation, construction of nests, time of breeding, 
and general habits of the birds in localities widely apart. The two best-known to myself are both within 
easy reach of Glasgow. One of these interesting nurseries is on a small marshy islet in Hairlaw Loch, a patch 
of water, partly artificial, situated near Neildon Pad, which is within full view of the city. There are, perhaps, 
from 500 to 800 pairs to be found breeding there every year. 
“ Another numerous colony of Black-headed Gulls has for many years frequented the Island of Inchmoln, 
on Loch Lomond. This island, which is about two miles in circumference, is quite flat, and stands but 
little above the level of the water. In wet seasons, therefore, it is to a great extent converted into a wet 
marsh. About the centre, where the ground is firmer, the Gulls construct their nests, which in some cases 
measure about eight inches in height; so that the contents are always safe against damp. Here, as well as at 
Hairlaw, many of the nests contain four eggs, though three is the usual number. Great variety also exists 
in the markings, some being pale blue and slightly spotted, others entirely of a dark colour, like some varieties 
of the egg of Richardson’s Skua. In one nest on Inchmoin I found two eggs, one of which was much 
elongated, pale green in colour, and spotless, while the other was much shorter, nearly twice the thickness, 
and almost as black as a piece of bog-oak.” 
The principal figure in the accompanying Plate is of the size of life, and young four or five days old. 
