260 OUR RARER BIRDS 



the waves, where it also sleeps. Except at its breeding-place, 

 I have always found this bird to be a very shy one, never 

 allowing a close approach when on land, and always extremely 

 wary when flying near a boat or ship at sea. Vast numbers 

 of these birds frequent the low coasts and muddy estuaries; 

 but even the young birds, in flocks by themselves, are ever on 

 the alert, and the least alarm causes them to take wing. It 

 will be noticed that this bird and most of the other Gulls 

 often run for a little distance ere taking wing, as if to gain 

 an impetus before they rise. 



The Gulls are eminently conspicuous birds when standing 

 on a broad expanse of mud, or on the green turf or dark- 

 looking rocks. They seem to be fully aware of this, and are 

 ever on the look-out for the enemies their conspicuous dress 

 is likely to attract. The more protectively coloured birds of 

 the coast lie close until almost trod upon before they take 

 wing, conscious of the safety they derive from their sombre 

 dress. On the vast banks of mud the Gulls are the first to 

 take alarm ; the big gray Herons may be equally as wary, but 

 they do not fly so readily. Long before you get near enough 

 to observe them closely, as they cluster in the shallows or 

 bathe in the little pools, the Gulls take wing, and in a 

 scattered straggling host go off to safer quarters, leaving a 

 few white feathers on the mud or floating on the shallow 

 water, to mark the place which they have left. 



Earest and most local of all our resident Gulls, the Great 

 Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) here claims a passing 

 notice. It becomes much more frequent in the wild rocky 

 northern districts, and only wanders to low-lying coasts in 

 winter. It is the shyest and the wariest of our Gulls, and 

 probably more oceanic in its habits than any of the rest. Like 

 the other large Gulls, it is almost omnivorous, eating anything 

 it can find along the shore or floating on the waves. It is a 

 great robber of eggs, and at St. Kilda the natives persecute it 



