THE GULL. 435 



extremity commanding a full view of the various ledges, 

 as well as declivities, on which the Gulls have established 

 themselves; and there have we sat, and could have re- 

 mained for hours, watching these sea-birds, and listen- 

 ing to their wild cry, mingling with the hoarse roar of 

 the wa^es lashing the rocks below. When resting there 

 some would fly so near, that the fanning of their wings 

 could almost be felt, while others would alight within 

 a few yards, and conning us over with a vacant simple 

 stare, kept repeating their plaintive, melancholy, implor- 

 ing sort of note. While, on the other hand, a pair or 

 two of the large Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) 

 from time to time sailed by, and then dropping on their 

 inaccessible ledge, reconnoitred us with a scrutinizing 

 look, from their keen, suspicious, penetrating eye. The 

 former, barely opening their comparatively slender beaks 

 enough to give vent to a gentle cry, seemed to say, "We 

 are poor harmless creatures; do not hurt us/' The 

 latter, on the other hand, the moment they had alighted 

 opening theirs as wide as possible, uttered a loud 

 hearty scream, as much as to say, " This is our territory; 

 you have no business here." Not far from the resting- 

 place of this pair of black-backed Gulls, a couple of the 

 common sort had, when we last visited this interesting 

 spot, established themselves on a bit of a plateau, that 

 made one giddy to look at, and quite tremble for the 

 fate of their sole offspring, a little gray, downy-covered 

 nestling, with about half an inch between its toes and 

 destruction, for a breath might have blown it over: but 

 there stood the little tottering bird, quite at its ease, so- 

 well tutored apparently, that when the old ones succes- 

 sively returned with food, it betrayed none of those 

 emotions common to young birds, which would certainly 

 have thrown it on its balance; no tremulous movement 

 of its flappers, no impatient stretchings of its neck, no 

 gapings of its mouth. There it stood, motionless, as if 

 conscious of the dangers attendant on even the slightest 

 bustling display of satisfaction. It was impossible not 



2F2 



