CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 5 1 



myself repeatedly observed as many as a thousand 

 or two of the larger species of Gulls attacking the 

 nets of a single boat ; at times taking hold of the 

 lines in their beaks, they rise in the air and attempt 

 to shake out the fish. The small boat is occasionally 

 sent to drive off the birds, but if disturbed from one 

 part of the nets they rapidly commence operations 

 on another." 



The specimen in the case was shot near some islands 

 that lie out 20 miles south of Oban. I had to hire 

 a steam-launch for the occasion, rather an expensive 

 item. A companion, whom I will call B, accom- 

 panied me. As he was fond of bird life, and did 

 something himself in the way of natural history, I 

 fancy he enjoyed the day's outing as much as I did, 

 since the Lesser Black- Backed Gull was by no 

 means the only specimen we secured on that 

 occasion. 



The Oyster Catcher. 

 This bird is dealt with in Case Six, page 54. 



CASE 5. 



THE KITTIWAKE GULL. 

 Order, GavicB. Family, LaridcE. 



This is one of the most graceful, as well as one of 

 the most plentiful species of Gulls breeding on our 

 British coasts and its surrounding islands. The 



