266 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
(1668) makes a somewhat similar statement, adding, "Nomen suum Foul,
ness nempe, hoc est avium promontarium." Both these writers were probably
quoting from Fuller, but Charleton was certainly in error in identifying the
island in question with Foulness Island, where, however, the Gulls probably
bred also. Fuller's " Puit Island " is undoubtedly the island in Handford Water,
near Harwich, still known as Peewit Island. Mr. J. H. H. Knights, of Ipswich,
has obtained satisfactory evidence (29. Mar. 15. 1884) that, if Gulls do not now
breed on Peewit Island, they at least did so annually, though in small numbers, on
the adjoining island known as Horsey Island, and that people came regularly
from Harwich for their eggs in 1883. On August 12th, 1883, a gentleman
obtained the young in down, the earlier layings having probably been taken.
Morant (i. 490), in alluding to Fuller's statements, cautiously remarks that the
island takes its name from the " great quantities of Pewits which come and
breed in it in the spring, but whether all the wonderful circumstances related by
Dr. T. Fuller are exactly true is doubtful, as (for instance) that they come on
St. George's Day precisely, that they seldom sleep whilst they sit on their
eggs, &c."
Mr. Hill, of Southminster, in 1833, says (12. vi. 450) :—
" The Black-headed Gulls make their appearance on this coast about the third
week in March. * * * In the months of May and June they are very busy in the
pursuit and destruction of the cockchafer. Their note is peculiar, resembling
the broken caw of a young Rook. About seven miles from me, in the Black-
water River, there is a low swampy island of fifty acres [? Peewit Island, near Brad-
well] where these birds resort to breed. From 10,000 to 12,000 eggs are annu-
ally taken thence and sold at 4d. a dozen. I last year visited the place at the
full time of their breeding, and I found the nests thickly strewed about, and the
eggs laid on a little seaweed, and seldom more than three in a nest, sometimes
four. * * * The eggs when dressed are eaten cold. The colour of the yolk is
deep orange. They are very strong, though considered a delicacy by the marsh
gourmands. The fat of the bird is of the same deep hue. In the month of
November they leave this coast, or at least never journey inland with the Com-
mon Gull."
Mr. C. Parsons, writing from Southchurch in 1833, says (13) :—
" The Black-headed Gull is a constant resident with us, but not until last
summer have I ever been able to discover a nest in my immediate neigh-
bourhood, although on a small island about twelve miles further on the
coast, they regularly breed in abundance*. I was much pleased last spring on
finding a few eggs on a piece of Salterns, a short distance from where I reside,
and on visiting the spot about a week after, I found that a large company of them
had taken up their abode there."
He adds that some fishermen took many of the eggs, and although the birds
were indefatigable in laying, not an egg was allowed to hatch. Mr. J. F. T.
Wiseman does not know of its breeding in the Paglesham district. There is
a large colony of probably one hundred nests in the vicinity of St. Osyth,
according to Mr. E. Bidwell. Dr. Laver, who describes it as " common in both
the Colchester and Paglesham districts," says that it " breeds in more than one
locality." He has heard it spoken of as the " Pewit Gull," though rarely. Round
Harwich, it is common, breeding in large numbers, according to Mr. Kerry, who
writes :—
" I should think there were quite 200 in one colony breeding on the bentlings
near Lower Kirby last season. Sometimes they breed in one spot, sometimes in
* Doubtless Mr. Parsons here refers to Foulness, where Mr. Dalton informs me the species
still breeds abundantly.