THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 257 



most numerous on one island, the Puffins live upon another, 

 the " Pinnacles " are sacred to the Guillemots and the Kitti- 

 vvakes ; but on every island in the group the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull has established a colony. As you approach 

 the islands the big Gulls may be seen thickly dotted up and 

 down the oreen sward, or standinGf in scores on the low rocks 

 and boulders. Gulls are everywhere. Wherever you may 

 cast your eye it is sure to rest on one or two of these big 

 birds standing all warily intent on watching the approach of 

 the boat. Your landing is the signal for general confusion 

 and consternation amongst the birds. One by one they take 

 wing, and as you wander up from the shore Gulls rise on 

 every side. Thousands of birds are soon in the air together, 

 rising from all parts of the grass, the patches of sea-campion, 

 and the rocky ridges, in a confused mass fluttering about like 

 big animated snowflakes. Almost at every step you stumble 

 across a Lesser Black -backed Gull's nest. They are every- 

 where — amongst the grass and marine herbage, in the crevices 

 of the rocks, and on the bare peaty ground, sometimes in the 

 hollows where the Puffin's burrows have fallen in. The 

 anxious owners clamour loudly from the air above, and peer 

 down upon you with troubled glances. As soon as you leave 

 one part of the island those birds whose nests are free from 

 intrusion soon settle down again, but at the least alarm they 

 rise screaminsj^ into the air. You w^ill never find them, how- 

 ever, go on to their nests until their breeding-place is finally 

 deserted by man. As you visit island after island, the same 

 strange stirring scenes are repeated — the clamorous Gulls 

 rising and filling the air in a troubled seething throng. Gulls 

 are also constantly arriving from the sea, no doubt having 

 observed the unusual disturbance from afar, and hastening 

 home to learn the cause. 



The same behaviour may be noticed in the smaller colonies 

 of this bird, established on the various rocky islands round 



17 



