THE GULL. . 385 



were a mutual greeting and cheering ; adding that they look 

 to their return as that of so many old acquaintances, after a 

 long absence, announcing the winter to be over, and spring 

 approaching. For a time they appear to congregate together 

 without any order whatever; but in the course of a month 

 begin to pair, and getting their nests in readiness, proceed to 

 lay their eggs. As if confident of protection, they become 

 quite familiar — at least this is the case with the common Gull. 

 In one part a point of rock projects considerably ; its ex- 

 tremity 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 remained for hours, 

 watching these sea-birds, and listening to their wild cry, ming- 

 ling with the hoarse roar of the waves lashing the rocks below. 

 When resting there, some would fty 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, imploring sort 

 of note. While, on the other hand, a pair or two of the Black- 

 backed Gulls from time to time sailed by, and then dropping 

 on their inaccessible ledge, reconnoitred us with a scrutinising 

 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 harm- 

 less 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 fai 

 from the resting-place of this pair of Black-backed Gulls, a 

 couple of the common sort had, when we last visited this inter- 

 esting 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 grey, 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 successively returned with food, it betrayed none 

 of those emotions common to young birds, which would cer- 



2 B 



