1 66 Gossip about Gulls. [Sess. 



swallow, and the clear little kittiwake. I was told that these 

 specimens had all been procured in Canada. 



When sailing up the Baltic, I was looking for birds, of 

 course, and it astonished me to see so few. I thought that 

 gulls must swarm there, but the number was extremely small. 

 The chief portion of those I saw were not so large as the 

 herring-gull, and were much darker on the back, and their 

 " ways " resembled those of the gulls which met us off the 

 American coast. Of course the sea-mew was to the fore, gay 

 and busy as ever. And another favourite of mine — tbe Arctic 

 tern — used to visit the ship, coming quite close to me at times, 

 and almost snapping from my hand tbe bread I was flinging 

 over to them. Clouds of this lovely bird met us in the Catte- 

 gat, and followed us to Holland, keeping up a screeching, 

 scolding badinage all the time. 



Perhaps the " piccataurie " is the most beautiful of all the 

 family. It yields to none in boldness and intelligence. It is 

 easily tamed, but, like the kittiwake, it " wants away " when 

 autumn brings the yearning and the dream which calls every 

 bird of passage to depart. The Arctic tern is a very social 

 creature, and loves to join a colony of its kind in squatting 

 upon some lonely holm or quiet ness. On such a spot you will 

 find their nests, many and close together, but their womankind 

 have few ideas regarding domestic comfort. They scrape out 

 a tiny hollow, fling carelessly into it a few scraps of weed and 

 grass, and in this primitive cradle is hatched their young. But 

 if the mother piccataurie is careless about the trimmings and 

 cushioning of her basinette, she is not careless of her babies. 

 She will defend them at all hazards. I have heard of groups 

 of terns persecuting, and at last devouring, crows which have 

 dared to attempt stealing an egg or nestling. A touching 

 story was told me of a number of terns surrounding one of 

 their number which had been wounded by a ruthless sports- 

 man. It was floating, unable to fly, on the water, and its 

 companions, screaming their indignation and sorrow in the 

 wildest tones, actually mobbed the murderer, dashing their 

 wings against him, till he was obliged to protect his face 

 with his hand, and make off as speedily as possible. 

 Any inquisitive visitor who may be suspected of similar de- 

 signs — such as a greater black-back or a raven — will rouse a 



