BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 121 



obtain some photographs of the young birds at 

 home. On a tiny loch, lying considerably higher 

 than that on which the main body nested, a pair 

 of Gulls had eggs earlier in the season ; but there 

 were no signs of life as I passed, so I concluded 

 that the young birds had left. Just after quitting 

 the lochan, however, I saw a Gull coming up to- 

 wards me as fast as he could fly and calling loudly. 

 He did not stop, but went straight up to the small 

 loch, where probably he had left the young for a 

 short time, and was now hastening back to see 

 if any harm had befallen them. 



On arriving at the main loch I found one pair 

 of Gulls especially demonstrative, swooping at me 

 repeatedly, and then I noticed two tiny youngsters, 

 only an hour or so old, floating behind a large rock 

 in the centre of the loch, where they had evidently 

 been hatched. Although able to float perfectly, 

 they found it impossible to swim against the waves and 

 were gradually carried to the shore. As there was 

 little cover for them to hide in, I thought I was fairly 

 sure to get a successful photograph, but one hid so 

 effectually that I could find no trace of it, and, on the 

 wind dropping, the other made for the loch again. So, 

 as the parent birds were in a great state of anxiety, 

 I left them in peace. These were an exceptionally 

 late brood, as often by the third week in July there 

 is scarcely a Gull left on the loch ; but on this occasion 

 the spring had been very stormy. I noticed another 

 young bird in the water, but several weeks old, 

 and quite a strong swimmer. 



Late in the nesting season, when the young 

 have learned to take care of themselves to 

 a certain extent, the adult Gulls sometimes leave 

 the loch for hours on end, and may be heard in 



