NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF ST. KILDA 77 



only resident wader. In fine weather you hear them day 

 and night piping along the shore. In stormy weather they 

 frequent the fields. 



The BLACK-BACKED GULL \Larus marinus\, here called 

 " farspock," is fairly numerous and arrives about the middle 

 of spring. They are greedy birds, feeding on carrion as well 

 as fish, sometimes even attacking lambs. It weighs about 

 five pounds, is two feet five inches in length, and has a spread 

 of wing of five feet and a half. It makes a nest lined with 

 grass on the top of some high rock, or on grassy tufts among 

 the steep ledges, or among the grass in steep and almost 

 inaccessible places. About the roth of May it lays three 

 or four eggs, which it hatches in five weeks. It feeds its 

 young in the nest for about four weeks, after which it takes 

 them down to the sea. When they are fully fledged all 

 take their leave except a very few, which remain all winter. 



The HERRING GULL \Larus argentatus\ comes about 

 the same time as the preceding, and resembles it in most of 

 its habits. It is here called " faolag," and the young of both 

 are called " scuirag." Many remain all the year. 



The KiTTlWAKE \_Rissa tridactyld\ arrives in great 

 numbers late in the spring. It is here called " ruideag." It 

 is a very much smaller bird than either of the above, weigh- 

 ing little more than half a pound. It is the only one of the 

 gulls which is at all eatable, but as it is only fair eating and 

 always rather lean, it is very seldom cooked. Early in May 

 it makes its nest in very inaccessible places, and if possible 

 where it has the protection of an overhanging cliff. It lays 

 four eggs, which the parents hatch by turns for four weeks. 

 I have often seen the one trying to get the other off the 

 nest that it might take its place. It is a very harmless and 

 affectionate bird, and much more social than any of the 

 other gulls. They come to the island together, fish together, 

 and make their nests together. I have never seen them 

 fight or in any way molest each other. In fishing it shoots 

 like an arrow along the surface of the water. It takes the 

 whole summer to hatch and rear its young, and as soon as 

 they are fully fledged they, like the other gulls, almost all 

 depart. Those few which winter here seem to be generally 

 young birds. 



