68 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER III. 



Amongst our feathered pets, we always had a number 

 of sea-birds ; indeed, the larger proportion of them 

 were of this class. The beautiful and graceful Herring- 

 gull or Seamew is the commonest of the gulls in 

 Shetland, and does not migrate to other climes after 

 the breeding season, as do so many of his congeners, 

 the Lesser black-backed gull, the Kittiwake, the Great 

 skua, and the Arctic skua. One of this species we 

 had for many years. No restraint was put upon her 

 movements. She came and went at her pleasure, but 

 always put in an appearance about dinner-time, when 

 she was sure to get a meal of boiled fish or something 

 else which seemed equally palatable ; for she was not in 

 the least particular, porridge or potatoes, or butter-milk 

 curd, being apparently as much relished as newly caught 

 sillacks. When the breeding season commenced, she 

 always got a mate, and brought him with her to the 

 house — to show, as I suppose, what a handsome one 

 she had secured. The important duties of incubation 

 on a high cliff not far distant having fairly commenced, 

 and the cares of a rising family demanding her 

 assiduous supervision, her visits for some weeks would 

 be infrequent and brief. In due time, she would appear 

 on the lawn, accompanied by her lord and master and 

 two or three well-grown scories (Shetlandic for young 

 gulls). It was a sight to see her in the full glory of 

 her summer plumage — lovely snow-white breast, bluish- 



