A considerable number of correspondents have produced evidence about the
coming of gulls to London,; and they have, I think, more or less settled the historic fact. In old days odd gulls visited London, but flocks spending continuous weeks or months along the Embankment or on the orna- mental waters were unknown. The change began, according to one witness, in the bard winter of 1881, when stress of weather brought numbers to London. The visit did not, however, develop into a habit with any great number. Indeed, the practice (as a lazy Oxford don said of his own neglected duties) " fell into desuetude." It was revived in 1895, another Very hard winter ; and it is certain that since '95 the black-headed gull has established itself as Cockney ; and the numbers tend to increase. The gulls get what they want : plenty of foal in the daytime and a quiet water (chiefly in the big reservoirs) at night. They leave only to nest, and most of them nest inland. One large nursery that I have visited is as far inland as Herefordshire.
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