IN THE SHETLANDS 373 
however, uniformly rolled over as he went down, 
which was not the case with the female,—and his 
periods of immersion were, for some reason, during 
the time I saw him, only half, or less than half, as 
long as hers, whilst he remained up, generally, for 
a little longer. 
In regard to the common seal, Dr. Edmondstone 
has, like myself, come to the conclusion that it does 
not post sentinels. He remarks, “It has been said” 
(I felt sure it had) “‘that when several seals are rest- 
ing on a rock, some one of their number acts as 
sentinel ; but this result of discipline or self-denial I 
cannot say I have seen—sauve qui peut is, | think, 
rather the watchword.” He goes on to say, however, 
“The herring-gull is their most vigilant videste at all 
seasons, as he is of every other kind of our game. 
The seal he loves especially to take under his wing, 
and he is the most vexatious interruption to the 
sportsman.” Long may the herring-gull continue to 
protect the seal!—if he really does so. For myself, I 
did not see any hint of it, though there was plenty of 
opportunity ; and as he allowed Mr. Thomas Ed- 
mondstone to shoot fifty in one year, I fear he cannot 
be very efficacious. That he will, sometimes, come 
flying down upon one, with a great clamour, as though 
objecting to one’s presence, and will continue to do 
this for a great many times in succession, is certainly 
true. I have been treated in this way several times, 
and in one instance the gull’s persistency, and 
apparent dislike, were quite remarkable. Now, if 
