Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/273

Rh to assume the brown cap of spring in place of the mottled pate which he had worn all winter. Since my acquaintance with this species, 1 have frequently inspected large flocks of black-headed gulls, but have never been so fortunate as to meet with another masked gull.

The Black-headed Gull, (Larus ridibundus).

of black-headed gulls breeds in a large marsh at Anerum, in this neighbourhood. They arrive at their summer quarters generally in the month of March, and leave us again about the end of July.

During the spring months they chiefly follow the plough, after the manner of rooks, for the purpose of obtaining worms and insects.—Many of them also may be seen at this season by the river side.

In summer, they frequent water a good deal more. Multitudes are to be seen at all times by the river Teviot, which is their chief resort, but they often make excursions up its tributary streams. When in search of food by the river, they fly at the height of about ten feet or so from the surface; and whenever they espy their object, whether fish or insect, they lower their course, and, skimming the surface of the water, pick it up. They almost always follow the windings of the river.