BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 131 



to the tender shoots of the corn ; and dozens of 

 birds may be seen ranging a field for the grubs, 

 every now and again dropping suddenly down upon 

 one of these insects. Last June, when many fields 

 of oats were badly damaged by grub, I remember 

 congratulating a farmer whose land was in the vicinity 

 of a large " Gullery " on the excellence of his oat 

 crop. His reply was : " O, aye ; but ye see them 

 white beasts eats up a' the grubs." At first I 

 could not imagine what he meant, but discovered 

 that " them white beasts " was his name for the 

 Black-headed Gulls. 



THE GREY CROW 



FEW birds are more persecuted than the Grey or 

 Hoodie Crow. This persecution is abundantly justi- 

 fied when there is the least game preserving, as the 

 Hoodie is perhaps the worst culprit so far as the 

 stealing of Pheasants' and Partridges' eggs is con- 

 cerned. 



I have noticed, however, that they are much 

 less ready to purloin coloured eggs such as those 

 of the Grouse and Lapwing than eggs which are 

 of a uniform brown colour, as those of the Mallard 

 or Pheasant. 



This spring I discovered a Teal Duck's nest 

 amongst some coarse grass, and, when the hen 

 left the nest, was much surprised to see the drake 

 rise from close beside her, when they both flew off 

 together. The nest contained only four eggs, and 

 there were several sucked eggs in the vicinity, so 

 that probably a Hoodie was the culprit, and the 

 drake was stationed on guard to beat off the intruder. 



