Young Gulls covered with Down.
The black-headed gull derives its name from the black patch on its head, which, however only appears during the breeding season.
"When do the gulls arrive?" the boys asked.
"Well, sir, a lot of them come in March and stay for a day or two, as if to see that everything is right; and then they go away, and in a few days afterwards the whole of them come and begin to lay directly. There was some very stormy weather in March this year and they were late in coming, or most of the eggs would have been hatched by now."
"In July and August they begin to go away, and leave in the night; and by the end of August very few are left."
"One would think that this small lake would scarcely afford sufficient food for them," said Jimmy.
"Oh they scour the country around, sir. They follow the plough and spread over the fields like rooks. They catch moths and other insects. They eat mice, and if a young bird (not their own) came in the way they would make a meal of it."
They bought a score of the eggs for the purpose of exchange, and then rowed round the pool watching the wonderful scene. There were plenty of other birds beside gulls there. Coots, water-hens, water-rails, grebes and dabchicks were in plenty.