n8 BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 



During the period of incubation the male bird 

 is constantly on the look-out and often may be 

 seen soaring about in the vicinity of the nest. Once, 

 from the top of a precipice, I was watching a pair 

 of Gulls on a tiny loch below, the hen sitting on 

 her nest on an islet and the cock flying about and 

 calling loudly in a most dissatisfied manner. I 

 was anxious to find out the cause of his discontent, 

 so lay perfectly quiet. Soon a herd of deer, which 

 had been grazing out of sight, came trotting con- 

 tentedly down to the edge of the loch, eager for the 

 cool water, for the day was very warm. Although it 

 was the month of June, large snow-fields were still 

 lying around the loch, and on these many deer, 

 both stags and hinds, were lying half asleep. As 

 the herd of deer entered the water, which at no 

 point was more than a few feet deep, the hen Gull 

 rose from the nest, and through my binoculars I 

 could clearly make out the two eggs although the 

 nest was fully half a mile away. Then both 

 birds sailed angrily around the deer, calling loudly, 

 " Kick, kieu, kieu, kieu," and evidently causing 

 the latter no little anxiety, as they very soon 

 left the water. One solitary individual, how- 

 ever, persisted in browsing at the edge of the 

 loch after his fellows had moved away. The 

 male Gull stood it for some time, but at length, 

 losing all patience, made an angry swoop at the 

 startled animal, which did not stop to argue, but 

 fled in a dazed way whereupon the Gull settled 

 on a rock and visibly swelled with importance, 

 receiving the congratulations of his mate. 



An added charm is afforded the ornithologist 

 who studies these interesting birds in their summer 

 haunts at these great heights ; his only com- 



