CUMMOX GULL.
that ventures near their breeding-quarters, 1 witnessed nil amusing seeue at Loch Inver, in Sutherland, one
evening in June ] > " " . Several pairs of Gulls frequent the lonely rook-bound coast to the south-west of the
I-och during SNINUIIT ; one nest, however, was placed just above the wash of the tide, hut a short distance from
the village. While watching the two old birds lisldng along a sandy hay in the immediate vicinity of the
low-lying ridge on which their young were located 1 noticed a Long-eared Owl flap slowly towards the
water. Evidently disturbed from its shelter in the pine-woods lieforc the accustomed hour, dazzled by the
light and apparently at a loss which way to turn, its uncertain and wavering flight speed¡1} attracted attention.
Instantly the male Gull with loud screams dashed after the intruder and buffeting the bewildered bird repeatedly
forced it out to sea; roused hy the outcry, a fresh contingent of Gulls shortly arrived and at once joined in the
attack with the greatest, fury. The Owl, after having been driven over the centre of the loch, at length rose
high iu the air, followed by a couple of the most inveterate of its pursuers, and not till it had disappeared
from view among the hills to the north did the Gulls return to their quarters and was peace reestablished. On
no other occasion have I seen an Owl rise to such an altitude; at one lime it wheeled round hi large circles at
the height of at least three hundred feet.
The nestling, immature, a few of the intermediate, and the adult plumages of this species have been
described ; the writers, however, have failed to state how many years elapse before the perfect mature dress
is assumed. I never kept the Common Gull in captivity for any length of time, and consequently have been
unable to follow all its changes ; hut the bird in all probability is not under three or four years of age
before it pairs and nests. Under date of August 1st, 1873, my notes contain the description of u Common Gull
shot on Ureydon mud flats which I should judge to be just over two years old:—" Head and neck white, slightly
speckled with grey; back clear blue; wings blue, intermixed with brown ; tail white with a black bar; iris
brown ; beak a pale blue-green, brown at the point; legs anil feet pale blue-green."
I'nder various title- this species is mentioned by different writers; one name made use of, " the Green-billed
Gull," is perfectly correct as to the bird in the adult state, though the author omits to draw attention to the
fact that, while immature, the hill is flrsh-tintcd with a dark born-colour towards the point, which, again, is
lighter. Bewick, when giving a description of the Winter Gull {/,nr«s It;/be runs. Linn.), evidently neither
more nor less than one of the immature stages of harm* count, bestows on the species the quaint appellation
of " Winter Mew " or « Coddy Moddy."
LESSER B L A C K - B A C K E D GULL.
LARUS FUSCUS.
As far as I have been able fu judge from observations made in all parts of our islands, and also on the
surrounding seas, this species is the mosl numerous of the British Gulls, breeding on various rocky portions
of the coast, and in colonies of larger or smaller size on the islands in the inland lochs as well as on
the open moors in the Highlands, To describe the whole of the nesting-stations that have come under my
notice is needless; but a few may be mentioned to give an idea of the nature of the country in which these
handsome Gulls pass the summer.
The islands on l.ocb Marco, in the west of Ross-shire, are resorted to by thousands of pairs: here they
arc permitted to rear their young in comparative peace, as boats are (or rather were, for I have not visited
the spot for some years) scarce on Hie loch, and it is but seldom that the country people are able to reach
the islands to obtain their eggs. Those who have only viewed this beautiful loch under the influence of a
brighi sky and a gentle breeze, would never credit the fury of the squalls that at times gather among the
surrounding hills and burst with but scanty warning over its surface. On one occasion, when I had sent
the previous day to the keeper to ask for the use of the boat, it was discovered, on arriving at the spot, that
three girls had come down from the hills in hopes of gelling out, fo procure a few baskets full of eggs. After
landing them on the islands wdiere the Gulls were most plentiful, we proceeded to search for the nests of
Geese and Divers, or other rarities that might foil in our way. Though the early morning had been fine and
still, by noon it had clouded over, and rain and wind set in. While paddling among the islands iu the
india-rubber boat on the watch for Geese, and inspecting the deserted haunts of the Osprey, I narrowly
escaped being caught in the first outburst of the storm*. Tor some hours we delayed our return voyage
iu expectation that the weather would moderate ; at hist, while attempting to reach the shore with a large
cargo of eggs gathered by the lassies, we were struck by a squall that came roaring across the loch with a
blinding cloud of spray, and driven back on one of the islands, the breaking of an oar sending two of the crew
to the bottom of the boat, where they rolled about with the eggs, now being dashed from side to side. On
w orking our craft into a sheltered bay and lauding our terror-stricken passengers, we were forced to work
hard to repair the damages received, and by the time our defects were made good, the storm had abated
sufficiently lo make a second aftcmpt. The girls, who had crouched at tho bottom of the boat, presented
a most ludicrous appearance, being drenched to the skin in a mixture that resembled egg-flip, the whole of
I heir spoil, eonsi«ling of several hundred (i nils' egg-, 1 IAV in:: been -NIA-hr.l and beaten up into a kind of custard
with the water that had broken on board. Some meat and drink, and the attentions of two or three sturdy
keepers, eventually put fresh life into the disconsolate maidens; but when they took their leave in tho
gloaming it was hard to recognize in the three limp and draggled forms Ibe brighi looking la-sies that had met
• TUII INCIDENT I» REFCRRED TO UNDER THE 11 TIFFIN O F * • FLNSSJ. °N SSFN 2 AMI A.