CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN GULLS 



on the shore they alight a few feet from it, and, having re- 

 connoitred carefully, fall to and devour it. It is interesting 

 to see these strong birds battling against a high wind, al- 

 ways working to windward, and taking advantage of every 

 headland and cliff for a moment's shelter. When going to 

 windward in their search for food (indeed, they never fly 

 down wind if they can help it), and perceiving something 

 edible, they keep on a short distance beyond it, and then 

 drifting back with thewind, drop down upon it. I saw a seal 

 last week (April) who had caught a salmon, and was eating 

 it above the water. A number of large gulls had collected 

 round him, and seemed inclined to dispute his prize, dart- 

 ing down at it with clamorous cries. 



The large grey gull, or wagel,* hunts the shore in much 

 the samemanner; but is still more voracious than the black- 

 backed gull. Nothing comes amiss to thisgreedy bird. I have 

 seen a dozen of them feeding on a dead and putrid horse, 

 digging it out with their powerful bills like so many ravens. 

 I have no doubt a dead human being would be considered 

 a fair and lawful prize also. While I am lying ensconced on 

 the shore for seals, this bird frequently comes hovering 

 over me, as if well inclined to pounce down. If wounded, he 

 does good battle against my retriever,aiming(like a heron) 

 at the eyes. When shot, he often disgorges a great quantity 

 of food, generally small fish; and on one occasion a wound- 

 ed wagel brought up,amongst a variety of undigested food, 

 a well-sized young kitten, which he had somewhere made 

 prize of. The grey gull, though frequently feeding in the 

 fields, seems very seldom to take to fresh-water lakes. 



* The Herring Gull (Lartts argentatus). — Ed, 



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