402 Mr. H. Durnford on North-Frisian Ornithology . 
its dark lead-coloured legs. Whilst approaching their nesting- 
ground we were greeted with harsh and noisy screams. Their 
note is not unlike that of S. fluviatilis , but louder and more 
powerful. When they have young they are said to be ex¬ 
tremely bold; and the farmer told us that when, on one occa¬ 
sion, he was visiting them with some friends, a bird took from 
a lady's hand a pocket-handkerchief which she was waving 
over her head. 
Lartjs canus. 
We saw a few Common Gulls on Sylt amongst the Herring- 
Gulls, and also on Amrum, but found no nests, though they 
doubtless breed on the dunes. 
Larus argentatus. Frisice “Mien.” 
Abundant on Sylt, nesting on the dunes, and on Sudfall, 
in the marsh surrounding the shepherd's house. A few on 
Amrum. Some years ago, before the passing of the law pro¬ 
hibiting the taking of eggs by any one, the farmer who owns 
the northern portion of Sylt made a point of protecting them; 
and he assured us he used then to have from forty to fifty 
thousand gathered during the season, always, however, allow¬ 
ing them to sit after the 14th June ; but now everybody who 
cares to run the risk of being fined takes them, and they still 
form a large proportion of the food of the natives. The ex¬ 
traordinary numbers of these birds on Sudfall must be seen 
to be appreciated ; their nests are large structures of sea-weed 
and coarse grass, and are placed in close proximity to each 
other ; they are most numerous at the east end of the island, 
but are also found on the north and west shore. Whilst 
staying at the shepherd's house their eggs were provided for 
us at every meal. 
Anser bernicla. Frisice “ Goos,” pi. " Ganz.” 
Whilst on Sudfall we saw flocks which must have amounted 
to two hundred birds. This island can only be reached by 
crossing over at low water from Nordstrand, from which it is 
distant about four miles. We started in the afternoon of the 
28tli May, during a thick drizzling rain from the north-east. 
