WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



and found every nest with its full number in it. I was walk- 

 inealoncr the shore of the lake someweeksafterwards.when 

 the birds had hatched, and whole fleets of young gulls of 

 a dark grey colour were swimming about. A young re- 

 triever I had with me swam into the water after them. He 

 hadscarcely got twenty yards from the shore when the whole 

 community of gulls attacked him, and not content with 

 harmless threats, struck down on the dog with rig-ht good 

 will; and I am convinced that his life was only saved by my 

 keeping up a constant fire on the large black-backed gulls, 

 which, in defence of their young, made common cause with 

 the others, and, from their great weight and strength, were 

 most dangerous assailants. 



When loungeing, gun in hand, on the sea-shore here, or 

 lying in wait for seals, I have frequent opportunities of 

 watching unobserved the proceedings of the gulls of differ- 

 ent kinds. The large black-backed gull soars slowly along 

 the edge of the receding tide, with his sharp eye fixed on 

 the beach, and turning his head and neck to observe every 

 object that may be left by the tide. If anything is seen 

 which his omnivorous appetite covets, down he pitches on 

 it, and with his powerful bill soon tears up and swallows it. 

 The sand-eel or small fish is swallowed whole. If a floating 

 prize presents itself, such as the remains of a large fish or 

 dead bird, it is soon discovered by one of the large gulls, 

 who is not allowed, however, to enjoy his prize alone; for 

 every one of his fellows within sight joins in tearing it to 

 pieces. When I have winged a duck, and it has escaped 

 and gone out to sea, I have frequently seen it attacked and 

 devoured almost alive by these birds. If a dead fish is left 



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