BIRDS. 231 



observes that, next to the Herring Gull, this is the commonest 

 gull all the year round in the Orkneys. 



Mr. Cursiter informs us that there is a large colony of these 

 birds breeding at the Loch of Sandwick, on the Mainland. We 

 visited Damsay Island again in 1889, and, to our astonishment, 

 did not see a single one of this species breeding, or indeed, on 

 the island, where the year before we had found such a fine 

 colony. 



In London's Magazine, Salmon mentions the Black-headed 

 Gull as breeding in Hoy, though not very numerous, and that it 

 invariably lays four eggs. At the present time we know of no 

 breeding-place of this bird in that island. 



Larus minutus, Pall. Little Gull, 



[Obs. In reference to the Little Gull whose capture was reported 

 in Land and Water^ of March 6th, 1886, near Kirkwall, we have 

 a note from Mr. T. Eanken saying that he examined the bird 

 at Dr. Stewart's house, in whose possession it is, and he " finds 

 it to be a Black-headed Gull of the second year, and probably a 

 female."] 



Larus canus, L. Common Gull, 

 Ore. = White, Maa. Sea Maa. 



Very abundant and resident. During the breeding season this 

 species does not restrict itself so much to the smaller holms 

 and other out-of-the-way, or less accessible spots, as do some of 

 the other gulls ; nor does it, to our knowledge, breed in any of 

 the cliffs of the islands. This is one of the species that appears 

 to be on the increase. There was, in 1888, a very large colony 

 on the island of Bisa Little, which, we were informed, was a 

 new one ; we saw quantities of these birds flying or resting on 

 that island on our way from Melsetter to Hoy. 



Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us that he had a tame Common 

 Gull which flew for years among the wild ones ; to prevent its 

 being shot by mistake, it had a piece of black ribbon tied round 

 one leg. It and a Herring Gull used to fly down from the 



