THE GULL. 
409 
sequence of the increase produced by the protection afforded 
during the breeding season) flocks have at different times 
detached themselves to such other situations in the neighbour- 
hood as were suitable. 
The following account of these birds, from Dr. Plot’s 
History of Staffordshire (p. 231, edit. Oxford, 1686), is also 
worthy of attention, partly from its accuracy, and closely 
corroborating that just given, and partly as an instance of 
the credulity of the otherwise talented writer, who so 
easily fell into the superstitious notions of the neighbour- 
hood, and firmly believed that the attachment of these birds 
to particular spots depended on the life and death of the 
proprietors : — 
“ But the strangest whole-footed water-fowle that frequents 
this country is a species of Gull; in some counties called the 
Black-Cap, in others, the Sea or Mire-Crow, here, the Pewitt; 
which being of the migratory kind, comes annually to certain 
pooles in the estate of the right worsliipfull Sir Charles 
Skrymsher, knight, to build and breed, and to no other 
estate in or near the county, but of this family, to which 
they have belonged ultra hominum memoriam, and never 
moved from it, though they have changed their station often. 
They anciently came to an old Pewit poole, about half a mile 
S. W. of bJorbury Church, but it being their strange quality 
(as the whole family will tell yow, to whom I referr the 
reader for the following account) to be disturbed and remove 
upon the death of the head of it, as they did within memory, 
upon the death of James Skrymsher, Esq., to Offley Moss, near 
Woods-Eves, which Moss, though containing two gentlemen’s 
land, yet (which is very remarkable) the Pewits did discern 
betwixt the one and the other, and build only on the land of 
the next heir, John Skrymsher, Esq., so wholly are they 
addicted to this family. 
“ At which Moss they continued about three years, and 
then removed to the old Pewit poole again, where they con- 
tinued to the death of the said John Skrymsher, Esq., 
which happening on the eve to our Lady-day, the very time 
when they are laying their eggs ; yet so concerned were 
