224 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XVI. 



I have often observed that the black-headed gull 

 eats a great deal of corn in the newly sown fields ; 

 and I now find that the lesser black-backed gull 

 does the same, as I shot one which had a handful 

 of corn (oats and barley) in its crop, mixed up with 

 worms, gi'ubs, &c. 



The fishermen at Nairn found, on the 26th of 

 this month, a very fine northern diver, drowned in 

 the stake nets set for salmon. They tell me that it 

 is not a solitary instance, as every year they get one 

 or two at this season. This is another proof that 

 this bird must breed somewhere on the Scotch coast, 

 although I never heard of its eggs being found. 



The coots and dabchicks have already commenced 

 making their large platform of a nest. I found one 

 on the loch which tlie bird had fastened on a float- 

 ing tree that had grounded in a shallow ; but which, 

 having again got adrift, owing to a rise in the loch, 

 had been driven by the wind until it stuck fast close 

 to the shore, where the old bird was still at work. 

 One bird seems to remain in the nest while its mate 

 brings it rushes, which the stationary bird disposes 

 of by adding them to the already large structure, 

 till it seems sufficiently high above the water and 

 solid enough to resist wind and weather. The 

 whole nest is firm enough to bea 

 weight than is ever imposed on it. 



