198 Pictures of Bird Life 



you approach them they croiieli into a corner, and so much 

 do they resemble the rock on whicli they are squatting tliat 

 when motionless it is difficult to avoid treading on them. 



The adult Gulls wheel round to the spot in hmidreds, 

 the moment the boat touches their island domain, amid 

 great excitement and loud and angry cries. On landing, you 

 are greeted Avith many unsa^'oury salutes as tlie birds soar 

 overhead, every step being accompanied by splashes on the 

 rocks on every side. It is like ])eing under tire. 15efore I 

 had landed two minutes, both my coat and liat were 

 plentifully besprinkled, while the birds laughed derisively, 

 " Ha, ha, ha." They are most bold-looking and handsome 

 birds, but are great robbers. liA'ing chiefly by plundering 

 their weaker neighbours, devouring both eggs and young, 

 if left unprotected for a moment. 



AVhen trying to approach the other birds, I found their 

 inquisitive behaviour a great nuisance. Just when I was 

 most anxious not to attract attention, they would wlieel 

 around me with much clamoiu- and outcry. 



On the island known as the " Wide-opens " there were 

 large colonies of both the Arctic and Sandwich Terns. There 

 used to be a settlement of the I^esser Terns, which some 

 years ago died out, and I do not know whether the attempt 

 to re-establish them by placing eggs from other localities in 

 the nests of the larger species has been successful or 

 not. The Common Tern used to nest also, though I saw 

 none. Since the better protection of tlie ])irds a few pairs 

 of tlie rare Roseate Terns have nested anmiallv, and seem 



