THROUGH WILD EUROPE 93 



On most of the islands in the lagoon was a nest 

 of Larus cachinnans, but never did we see more 

 than one nest on each island. Here, at all events, 

 it appeared to be solitary in its breeding habits, and 

 too distrustful of the predatory instincts of its own 

 kind to nest in close proximity to one another. In 

 like manner our Great Black-backed Gull, instead 

 of nesting in colonies, like its smaller relatives, 

 prefers to nest, each pair by itself, generally on the 

 summit of some rock island. The three eggs were 

 indistinguishable from eggs of the Herring Gull 

 (Larus argentatus). The birds also are similar, 

 with the exception of their bright yellow legs and 

 feet : those of the Herring Gull being flesh coloured. 



Another conspicuous though much smaller bird 

 on these islands, as well as along the shores of the 

 lagoon, was the lovely little Black-headed Yellow 

 Wagtail (Motacilla atricapilla). All the Wagtails 

 are very graceful and very beautiful, the Grey 

 Wagtail being perhaps the most elegant of our 

 British Wagtails, though daintiness and elegance 

 are the chief characteristics of the whole Wagtail 

 family. But the strong contrast afforded by the 

 jet black head and the bright yellow breast of this 

 bird made it particularly striking and noticeable. 

 They were very common, flitting about from one 

 tall plant to another, and evidently beginning to 

 breed ; but though I searched carefully several 



