68 



THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



which they could not approach easily, as there is usually a heavy 

 surf breaking upon them. I have frecpiently watched them at 

 night, to see if they would come into any of the creeks, but 

 they never did ; on the contrary, after dusk they would often 

 leave the bay ; the whole of them would fly off simultaneously in 

 the direction of the mainland 



of Mull, as if they were bound 

 for some well-known feeding ground. I have often seen them 

 actively feeding in the day-time, though more generally they are 

 floating about at rest or diverting themselves. They are of a 

 very lively and restless disposition, continually rising on the wing, 

 flying round and round in circles, chasing one another, squattering 

 along the surface, half-flying, half-swimming, accompanying all 

 these gambols with their curious cries. When the storms are at 

 their loudest, and the waves running mountains high, then their 

 glee seems to reach its highest pitch, and they appear thoroughly 



