COMMON GULL.
In lliu same localities, till- hapless Gulls being pelpelunlly plundered and harassed by those dashing rubbers"
Considering tlie numbers iif Gulls passing the summer nil the. mnors, the quantities of young salmon destroyed
must he enormous. Young birds are also occasionally taken, though hut few instances of such ih'|U'avity hare
come uuder my notice. While crossing the moors miir Loch More, in Caithness, on May 81, 18(10, two adult
Common Gulls were seen quarrelling over some small and helpless object ; on approaching the spot the birds
rose from a downy nestling of the Golden Plover, and within a few yards I detected a SJVOIUI, partially- devoured ;
Both of these innocent victims were still warm, plainly indicating that the murders had only recently been
committed.
The hrooiling-hunnls of this species are in many instances situated at long distances from the sea-coast.
To the north-west of lien Slioch, the highest noun tain in Ross-shire, a colony of some hundreds is established
on the islands ns well as on (he rough ground surrounding a hill-loch situate,! in the midst of some of the
wildest scenery in the Western 11 ighlaiuK It is seldom this desolate spot is visited save by the deer-stalker or a
wandering shepherd ; and the utter disregard of their natural enemies shown by even some of the most wary
species nesting in the vicinity was exceedingly striking. After a short clamour had been raised on our first
approach the Gulls settled quietly down and but slight heed was taken of our movements Tor the remainder of
the day. Itlack-heodod Gull-, I learned from our guide la keeper from Letterewcl, had formerly bred here ill
great nuiuhers, though not a bin! was seen during the hours wo spent by the loch-side ; and it was evident the
colony must have shifted their quarters. A pair of lllack-throaled Divers were nesting on the Hand, and while
visiting their haunts in (he india-rubber boat (the only kind of craft that could be Iraiisportod to such
inaccessible spots; 1 noticed both birds on the water. Shortly after returning to the shore, the female was
again seen on her eggs, where she remained sitting till we left the loch, the male ivpealodly showing himself
on the water during the afternoon within half a gunshot, 'flic majority of the nests of the Gulls were placed
near the loch-side or on the adjacent moorland; a few, however, I remarked were scattered among some rough
tussocks of grass at a slight elevation above the level of the ground. It is probable that many of the former
must have bean carried away by (he rush of water from the swollen burns during the storm that Occurred the
following night—the oth of Juue, l&liS. Shortly before dark the weather assumed an exceedingly threatening
aspect aud at length a heavy downpour of rain set in, lasting without intermission for several hours; the
smallest streamlets increased to mountain-torrents, and the lochs rose rapidly to such a height that thousands of
the eggs of Gulls, Ducks, and Divers must have been destroyed. Owing to the length of the journey and 1 he
roughness of the track, 1 did not return to the loch to ascertain if the nests of the Gulls thai had attracted my
attention escaped the elfecls of the flood : judging from observations made in the glens on the south side of
Loch Maree, I believe they were sufficiently raised to save their contents from contact with the water, thuugb
the whole of the nests by Ihe loch-side must inevitably have been submerged.
Far up towards the west, in the remotest part of (iletilyon, in Perthshire, a large colony of Common Gulls
has been established fur many years, though latterly the birds have decreased in numbers. The lochs of Rom,
where this Gullery is situated, arc far nearer to the western seu-eoast ; the birds, however, invariably make their
way in spring up the 'lay and following on through Gleulyun reach their mountain-haunts by crossing the
moors near the course of llie burns falling from the lochs. It is usually the beginning of April before any
numbers are seen about the Lyon ; if looked for they will then lie found by the river-side searching diligently
for smolls or small salmon while gradually working on towards their summer-quarters. Occasionally I have
watched small parties scillod quietly resting for hours near the beds on which the salmon had previously
• 1 regret Uinl "<> ininraution i n received from the Uiidcttni.t SSBSSnsWf the content, of Ihe xlonwh* irf mnv or the Common {lull,
procured IU special i as at I liar juuinicr-iiuarU'ra. N'otc of the Arctic Skua., however, were found In e.mtgin leu III mi Uu ol three muoll-, hi]]] in
iiii uuitui's'-'ii -l ile. Si re i these Shu.I. MIII..in. if ever. e.i|iture li-li fur lie III-I lie-, di •[«•]! hug iiliuwl ml inly nil Uie murtion, nf the utifurluuufo
(lulls (or their MIIII.II of luod, there un tie little doubt uatu llic lire-liter) hahiU of the li.lh.-r.
COMMON GUI,I,
spawned. I hough for the most part they were to be observed flitting hit her and thither where the current swept
rapidly over the shallows. On the westernmost of the two lochs is a small island (said by local I radii ion to have
been Ihe residence of a far-famed freebooter), and here were some two hundred nests at the time of my lirsl visit
in lSlHi. Dead strands of grass with a few tine fibres of root had been employed by I hi' birds in the construction
of their cradles, which were inserted in every available hollow on the rough ground, as well as iu the cracks and
eroi ices in the slabs of the moss-grown rocks. Here ami than nests were to he seen built among the roots and
fallen I ruuks of rotten timber, partially concealed by the fronds of the large and -pleading ferus that flourished
luxuriantly in the moist and peaty soil. In a few instances a situation had been chosen in the old aud
weather-beaten birches where Ihe limbs branched out from the main stem; none, however, were planed
at a greater altitude than about four feet from the ground. Though the lower portion of the trees still
exhibited foliage of the brightest green, the topmost twigs and branches had been killed through the
Gulls constantly perching. The snow-white birds resting motionless on the dead and withered limbs, or
steady big themselves wilh flapping »ings while taking up a position *, gave a somewhat ludicrous appearance
lo the busy scene. At the same time hundreds might be observed sweeping round the clump of tree* or dotted
hero and there over the rocks aud stones, while, if carefully looked for, others, half hidden by the luxuriant
vegetation, could he delected sitting quietly on their nests.
During the years I spent in the west of Perthshire this hrei'ding-station was carefully protected by the
proprietor, every Care being taken to prevent intrusion on the haunts of the birds. After a Tew cirgs had lieeii
procured at the commencement of the season, the only boul on the loch was removed, and communicaiiun with
the island cut off till after the young were on wing. Shortly after the boat hod liecn carted away iu ISJOTI a
pair of Grey Crow s built (heir nest in the branches of one of the stuuled birch Ireos and fared sumptuously on
Gulls' egigs till the craft was brought hack and an effectual stop put to their depredations.
In all of the northern counties of the Highlands with which 1 am acquainted there arc several breedingstations
of these Gulls, for the most part situated out on the barren and open moors. About Loch Doula, near
Lairg, iu Sutherland, numbers of this species take up their summer-quarters; the whole of the available space
beneath the shelter of the stunted bushes on the wooded islands being, however, appropriated by the swarms of
Black-Iicaded Gulls that resort lo ibis locality, the Common Gulls arc banished to the rough ground round
the edges of the water aud a swamp on the south side; here I have never witnessed them attempting to settle
on the trees, and it is but seldom that the Black-headed will make more than a clumsy effort to balance
themselves for a few moments on the waving branches.
On the western coast of the Highlands 1 repeatedly observed nests of this species placed among the ledges
of rock a short distance above high.water mark; in some instances a single pair will he met w llh, at others n
small colony rear their families in conqiany ; then birds, however, do not crowd their offspring together after
the fashion of Kitliwakcs. Common Gulls are staled in various works lo nesl in many parts of the country in
the high cliffs overhanging the sea-coast; unfortunately 1 do not happen to have explored any such spots to
which they resorted, and consequently am unable lo give even the slightest information on my own authority
concerning Iheir breeding-habits in localilies of this description. With regard to the nesting-station or the
Common Gull reported to be situated on the Bass Bock. 1 have no hesitation in asserting my belief that some
error must have occurred. 1 am well acquainted with all parts of the rock, aud having closely examined the
nrassy slopes near llie sum mi I, as well us the ledg.-s in the face of the cliffs, repeatedly duriug several seasons, it
is extremely unlikely that Ihe species could have e-oaped notice. The fishermen of Canty Bay, who have had
charge or the low ling-operation* on the Bass for many years, possess no liltle knou ledge concerning ihe seabirds
ami their habits, and from them 1 could never learn that this (bill had brad upon the rock.
Though Common Gulls are by no means so ready as many other species to attack any feathered stranger
* DueiHiiounlly the (lull- experienced eonsidemhle diflkiUi) in SSb4B| .i (noting, 1ml when unco wdled were ]*rfcelly <l •*•«.