68 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



may even be two seasons back. Plainly they do not 

 come early to maturity two, and even three years 

 being quite a common interval. This helps to keep 

 down the rate of increase, and points to diminished 

 risk. Did all the young nest the first season, the 

 number of birds must be vastly increased. In 

 the case of land birds, the breeding is begun at once, 

 as if in feverish haste to make up for the immense 

 slaughter. Were it not so, there is reason to fear 

 that many species would become extinct. 



Familiar as they are to our eyes, and on our 

 tongues, the gulls are the least known of our sea 

 birds. It is an excellent test of one's powers of 

 observation, and patience as well, if he can dis- 

 tinguish one from the other. Of course, when the 

 initial confusion is overcome, a glance is sufficient 

 for identification. The differences in their cry, in 

 their flight, in their appearance, become familiar. 



The commonest of our coast forms is the black- 

 headed gull. He seldom ventures inland beyond 

 the coast fields in winter ; or far to sea, unless a 

 shoal of fish is driven in. On a calm day he 

 takes a ride on the water as children on a swing, 

 sitting high, and looking rather awkward. On a 

 rough day he searches the breakers, avoiding their 

 broken crests. Usually he potters in and out, 



