232 BIRDS. 



garden with the under gardener, who used to feed them when 

 young, and roost all night on his house, flying up again in the 

 morning. This bird was also quite aware it would not be shot at, 

 and was not at all alarmed at the report of a gun : it would 

 hover within twenty yards after a shot, as if to see the result. 

 Salmon reports the Common Gull as only breeding in Hoy, 

 it was not numerous there, and only laid two eggs. (London's 

 Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v. pp. 415-425.) 



Larus argentatus, Gmel. Herring Gull, 



Resident, and perhaps even more abundant than the last-named, 

 and in this all our correspondents are agreed. They breed 

 indifferently in rocks or on the ground, round the edges of 

 lochs, on the islands therein, or on the bare hill-side. 



The Herring Gull is very noisy in March and April, and 

 its note is always connected in our minds with the commence- 

 ment of spring in the Highlands. 



This species turns over clods of earth both for grubs and 

 grain, and at the same time scratches with its feet for the 

 latter. Mr. Moodie-Heddle informs us he has had to re-sow 

 some three or four acres on that account. 



Mr. Irvine-Fortescue sends us the following curious incident. 

 "Mr. Halcro once saw a Herring Gull fall from a considerable 

 height, near Swanbister House. It lay a short time, then got 

 to its feet, and struggled backwards with its head low down. 

 It at last got rid of two eels which measured 21 and 15 inches 

 respectively. Each had been swallowed with a double about 

 the middle, and the head of the larger was considerably 

 digested. On getting rid of the eels, the gull rose and flew off." 



Larus fuscus, L. Lesser Black-backed Gull. 



A summer visitant, and, excepting in one or two localities, by no 

 means a numerous species, indeed, in our experience, the rarest 

 of all the more ordinary Laridse with the exception of its larger 

 cousin. 



Although a few pairs are scattered here and there throughout 



