GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
seu-fowl were ill times (ii true toil, I could detect no strangers niuuiig tlic swarms collected, and lint this single
specimen of Hie Black-back was obtained.
The nest, like that of most sea-birds, is by no means elaborately constructed, differing slightly in its
composition according to the locality. On the sea-coast it is placed among the rough herbage on the upper
ledge of a rocky elill', or at times in some envily among the bare stones. Coarse grass with strands from any
adjacent plants are the principal materials, H ilh now and then a smalt quantity of line dead sea-weed. A fewfeathers
an usually to be seen on the nest or scattered around, but I lies,'are probably plucked by the birds
themselves while cleaning their plumage, tin I he islands in the freshwater lochs and on the open moors the
nests are constructed almost entirely of a mixture of tine and coarse grasses, with an occasional blade or two of
rush or other marsh-plant. In June 1808 1 watched a female sitting on her nest on a grassy ledge in the face
of the cliffs near Duueausby Head in Caithness. The steep and narrow ravine, owing to the shade thrown by
the lofty rocks, was dark and gloomy iu the extreme, the white plumage of the Gull standing out clearly
defined and making a most striking picture. Though Kiltiwnkes, UnzorbiUs, and Herring-Gulls were all
breeding at no great distance, the ledge on which the Black-back bad taken up its quarters was otherwise
untenanted save by a pair of Black Guillemots, whose eggs or young were snugly concealed under a Large
block of stone lying on the grass within a few feet of the nest of the Gull. WhM the active little divers
pitched on the ledge, and rapidly made their way to their domicile beneath the slab of rock, I noticed the Gull
occasionally stretching forward her head, as if warning them against too near an approach.
The eggs of most of the larger Gulls arc much alike in col airing, and except by means of a large series of
coloured plates it is impossible to give any description that would be of service.
H E R R I N G - G U L L .
LARUS AR GENT A TUS.
Tins well-known species is to be met with all round the shores of the British Islands; though, as a rule,
frequenting the sea-coast and the adjacent islands, large bodies, may occasionally be seen inland.
Unless from a supposed similarity in lints and colouring to a fresh.caught herring {a clear blue-grey
pervading the back and a silvery white lighting up the undcrparts), it is somewhat unintelligible why the name
of Herring-Gull should have been applied to this species, the Lesser Black-backed Gull being a far more frequent
attendant on the Heels of herring-boats oil' our e<>a-ls during autumn, and consequently a much larger consumer
of that fish than Lams argealaliis. The fishermen of the Firth of Forth, however, are under the impression
that when the birds are numerous along shore shoals of herrings are approaching the coast. I was unable to
ascertain that these iisb formed any part of the food of tho Gulls resorting to the Firth at that season;
indeed it was only whilst they were accompanying the fleets of boats or frequenting the harbours where the
cargoes of fish were discharged that T notice J their prey consisted of herrings. Some years ago, while sailing
pasl the Bass Rock Towards the close of summer, a flock of perhaps one hundred and fifty Gulls (among which
several adults of this species were conspicuous) was observed scattered over the ledges above the landim--
place. One of the crew at once drew my attention to these birds, remarking that their presence at this
season was a sure sigu that herrings were in the Firth. Being anxious to ascertain, if possible, on what they
bad been feeding, I discharged both ban-els of a heavy rifle at the flock, in the expectation that one might ho
struck, or that, in their alarm at the sound of the bullets, some food might he disgorged. The whole bodysprung
instantly on wing, and dapping out to sea before we could approach within range of the shoulder-"un,
escaped without a bird being obtained. On lauding and examining the ledges, on which limy had been resting,
it was discovered that several had thrown up the contents of their stomachs, consisting onlv of perfectly
undigested grain, with a number of diminutive mussel-shells. A few days later (August 22nd, 1*7-1) several
immature Herring-Gulls were shot along the coast; but 1 was again unable to establish the fact that
herrings had formed any portion of their diet ; at this season these birds appear to procure much of their
food inland.
Judging from my own observations, I should be inclined to think that the farmer rather than the gamepreserver
suffered from the damage caused by this species. In many northern districts complaints have been
raised, accusing these birds of attacking the roots of turnips when other food was scarce, also of inakin™
considerable inroads on the newly sown grain. During the seasons spent on the moors 1 have not seen a
single individual captured in the vermin-traps set for the destruction of other Gulls, or observed them proving
on either young game or eggs. In preference tu the Grouse-moors in tho north, these birds appear to resort
to the cultivated tracts of land in the neighbourhood of the coasts, where, after feeding in large iloeks on the
fields, they retire to the rocks to rest. It is, however, a mistake to assert that the Herring-Gull is utterly
blameless: on the Fern Islands I learned from the men in charge of the egging-husiuess that should tho