266 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 



the proportion of about ten of the former to one of the latter. Almost 

 immediately on arrival the process of incubation is commenced. The 

 spots they select are the numerous steep, rocky islets stacks, as they 

 are called which in winter are almost continually submerged by the 

 awful seas rolling in from the Atlantic 



" The tumbling surf that buries 

 The Orkwegian skerries, 

 Answering the hoarse Hebrides," 



but which are now literally covered by the nests of these halcyons of 

 the ocean. When these rocks are visited the white-winged birds rise 

 up in clouds, filling the air with their shrill, angry clamour, hovering, 

 wheeling, and darting at the molesters of their nests, almost striking 

 them with their wings, exhibiting every sign of rage both in voice and 

 action, and so daring in their approach as to let us knock them down 

 with a stick or boat-hook. Undeterred by all this show of resistance, 

 we would quickly strip the nests, filling bonnets and baling-dishes, or 

 any available vessel with the spoil, consisting of olive-green, brown- 

 blotched eggs, smaller than plovers', and excellent eating, boiled hard 

 and eaten cold ; and this we did without any feelings of compunction, 

 knowing that the nests will quickly be replenished, which a few days 

 of stiff westerly wind, rendering their surf-bound citadels secure 

 against marauders, will enable them to hatch undisturbed. These 

 exciting egg raids, carried out by a merry party in piratical boats, 

 armed and provisioned for a long day's cruise among the distant isles, 

 remain as bright pictures in the memory, encircled by a luminous halo 

 of happy reminiscences, which will often conjure themselves up in after 

 years with all the vivid distinctness and minutiae of a coloured photo- 

 graph or dissolving view. The eggs and nest, in appearance and 

 situation, are exactly similar to the gull's in miniature, and very 

 quickly after emerging from the egg the little downy chicks learn to 

 run upon the crags with a marvellous precocity of activity and cunning 

 in dodging and hiding among the clefts and crannies, setting pursuit 

 at defiance. Their island name is stearnal. 



THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



We are not familiar with him in his black cap or summer dress, as 

 there is no breeding place very near us. The only one I happen to 



