no BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



which use the island as a nesting ground were to 

 combine against the Common Gulls or the Grey 

 Crows, they could drive them away with the 

 greatest of ease ; on the contrary, however, they all 

 seem to get on excellently together, and to rear their 

 broods in complete harmony. The only time I 

 ever saw the slightest sign of disagreement was 

 when a Gull happened to alight, before going to 

 her nest, rather near a Tern's eggs. The Tern re- 

 sented this by swooping at the Gull several times, 

 but beyond ducking each time the Gull completely 

 ignored its adversary ; and, as it made no attempt 

 on the eggs of the Tern, the latter soon ceased its 

 attack and harmony was once again restored in 

 the community. 



Can it be that the Gulls of the island have 

 pledged themselves to abstain from all egg-stealing 

 and other sins, and in return are allowed to rear 

 their broods in peace ? It seems like it. It is, of 

 course, true that the Gulls and Hoodies are always 

 more ready to purloin the eggs of such birds as the 

 Pheasant, Partridge, or Duck, which are unspotted, 

 rather than the eggs of the Grouse ; but whether 

 because the former are more easy to find or not 

 it is difficult to say. 



The Common Tern commences nesting operations 

 almost immediately it reaches its nesting haunts 

 after its long flight across the seas, and by the 

 third week in May the majority are brooding on 

 eggs. When the nesting site is on the seashore, 

 the Terns form large colonies, consisting of many 

 scores of birds ; but on the river banks it is 

 rare for more than one pair to nest on the 

 same stretch of pebbles, although there may be 

 ample room. Probably the reason is that, if several 



