GliEAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 533 



Let us view the marine Vulture in a different way. 

 Here we are, in a small boat, rowed by four persons, on 

 the smooth bosom of the Atlantic, two miles from that grim 

 promontory of Toe-head, and drawing near to the little island 

 of Copay. It is a bright day, in the beginning of June, the 

 elements have proclaimed a cessation of hostilities, and we 

 are ready to wage war upon nature, having our two guns in 

 trim, and a large basket to contain the spoils of many nests. 

 Some Cormorants on the headland, stretching out their long 

 necks, seem to be preparing for flight ; a flock of Grey Geese 

 has already left the island ; many Gulls have taken the alarm, 

 and are hovering over the crags ; a little band of Oyster- 

 catchers on the shore seem, by their cries, to be consulting 

 among themselves ; and there, as we draw near, one after 

 another, the spotted Guillemots, leaving their nests, arrange 

 themselves in lines, along the edges of the shelves. Now^ 

 then fire ! Eight or ten of them remain. But what an up- 

 roar ! The isle has been " frightened from her propriety." 

 Herring Gulls, Common Gulls, and Oyster-catchers, Avheel 

 and scream in alarm, confusion, and despair. We are now 

 at the landing-place, which is rather slippery ; but we have 

 nimbly leapt on shore, and advance toward the grassy bank. 

 Under these large stones, confusedly heaped together, are 

 many nests of the spotted Guillemot, which, contrary to the 

 assertions of many authors, lays three eggs, on the bare 

 gravel or rock. In these holes, which seem to have been 

 originally made by rats in the turf, are nests of the Star- 

 ling. Here is the first Gull's nest, with its three eggs ; 

 another, and another; but you must look well, otherwise 

 many will escape notice. Let us leave our guns here, and 

 fill our hats with eggs. There ! a Duck has flown, and we 

 find a nest of the Eider, with its five eggs wrapped in grey 

 down. The screams of the poor Gulls are almost deafening; 

 yet few of these birds come very near, and of the fifty or sixty 

 black-backed species which we see, some are hovering far 

 aloft, some perched on distant crags, and some running for- 

 ward and backward on the grass, within gunshot. Their 

 eggs are larger than those of the Herring Gull, otherwise 

 vou can hardlv distinguish them here. Those of the Oyster- 



