1 62 Gossip about Gulls. [Sess. 



find himself disappointed if a friendly sea-mew is within hail, 

 for her warning cry will tell the heedless " game " of approach- 

 ing danger. •> 



When coming down Yell Sound last summer on board the 

 steamer, I saw a pair of " shooies " (Arctic skua gull) tor- 

 menting sea-mews after their usual mode. There was a shoal 

 of small fish inshore, and the "maas" were feasting abundantly, 

 but were compelled to pay toll to the winged pirates of their 

 race. One gull, evidently determined not to disgorge, gave 

 his pursuer much trouble by dipping into the sea, and floating 

 on it until driven to take flight by the rapid swooping of the 

 skua, which somehow frightened him as much as the chase on 

 wing had done. At last the skua lost temper, and became 

 bolder. He rose above the sea-mew like a hawk, and coming 

 down in a slanting direction, struck it with his powerful beak. 

 A wild scream, and the poor white maa dropped upon the sea 

 with its delicate plumage stained with blood. There is a limit 

 to what even gulls will endure at the hands of their congeners, 

 and I was much gratified to see that after his furious onslaught 

 upon the white maa a body of gulls rose clamorously on every 

 side, and with bewildering motion and unlimited bad language 

 compelled Master Shooie to depart. 



It is very surprising what power of language gulls possess. 

 I have sat in a cleft of the rocks for hours listening to them. 

 Their intonation is wonderfully varied and expressive ; so much 

 so, indeed, that the listener can soon understand their tongue, 

 particularly when they are talking about him — or her — self. 

 The way they eye you as they circle past, and remark to a 

 friend on your peculiar habits, is as humiliating to your vanity 

 as an adverse critique on your best book from your favourite 

 newspaper. 



I kept a greater black-back in my garden for several years. 

 He was a never-failing source of entertainment. Then I got 

 'some fowls and put beside him, and immediately the scorie 

 very affably tried to make friends with the new-comers. But 

 the dignified rooster declined the acquaintance — no doubt sus- 

 pecting the foreigner of interested motives. That his suspicions 

 were well founded I soon proved. The hens had — as is usual 

 — a little opening in the door of their abode, whereby they 

 could retire into privacy when they purposed laying eggs. 



