NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 131 



company with the Lesser Black-backed Gulls, from which birds 

 they are easily distinguishable, not only by their greater size, but 

 also by their much louder, and, if I may use the expression, much 

 more defiant voice. I received a laying of their eggs on one 

 occasion, which was taken on the shore of an inland loch, a most 

 unusual situation, as they generally choose the very highest part of 

 an island whereon to make their nest.* 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



LARUS FUSCUS, Linnaeus. 



This is perhaps the most abundant species of Gull in Sutherland, 

 and is found breeding, in large colonies, on the islands of both 

 inland and sea lochs. The largest colony with which I am 

 personally acquainted is on two islands of a loch in West Cromarty, 

 where I have estimated their numbers at about two hundred pairs. 

 Here they breed entirely by themselves ; with no other species of 

 Gull, except one pair of Great Black-backed Gulls. They are 

 more plentiful in the west than in the north or east. Their 

 numbers on the Badcall islands, where they breed along with the 

 Herring Gull, fluctuate considerably in different years, owing, 

 doubtless, to their nests being robbed perpetually by the 

 inhabitants of Stoir and Aardvaar. There are numbers of rats 

 also on the islands, which are not favourable to their increase. 



Few objects present a more beautiful sight to the eye of the 

 ornithologist, than an island of some inland loch colonized by 

 these handsome birds. Everywhere their pure white breasts and 

 black backs are to be seen, in striking contrast to the deep-green 

 colour of the grass, which is sure to be found on every island which 

 they frequent, or in time past have frequented. The air, too, is 

 full of them, as they sail round and round, uttering their loud, 

 defiant laugh. The calm, unruffled surface of the loch, too, bears 

 its share of them upon its bosom, as parties of from two or three 

 to a dozen float lightly upon it. In one locality I found this 



* An interesting account is given in Wilson's " Voyage round the Coasts 

 of Scotland and the Isles " (Vol. i., p. 237), of a battle between a flock of Sea- 

 Gulls protecting their young and a troop of goats (in which the former 

 succeeded in beating off the latter, and saving their offspring from their 

 hoofs), on an island of Loch Laxford. They were probably of this or the 

 following species. 



