9402 Birds. 



taking their departure. The whole number of those which return to 

 us in summer arrive ahnost simultaneously. 



Lesser Blackbacked Gull. — By the end of August the lesser black- 

 backed gulls had all disappeared, except of course the old female 

 which has now remained for upwards of twenty-two years in the gar- 

 den at Halligarth, without displaying the smallest degree of restless- 

 ness, or desire to accompany her fellows at the time of the usual 

 migration. This bird was taken from the rocks when very young, and 

 has since lived in the garden, summer and winter, without attempting 

 to escape. A slight injury to one wing prevents her from flying, and 

 the door may be left open for hours at a time, or snow may be lying 

 upon a level with the walls, and yet she will never pass their limits. 

 Although she has been so long in captivity, kindness has hitherto 

 failed to make the smallest impression upon her utter aversion to the 

 human species ; any person who approaches her is sure to be 

 attacked, and even those who carry her food are subjected to the 

 same ungracious treatment. Almost anything which is eatable seems 

 to suit her appetite ; even oatmeal porridge is not refused, and fish, 

 raw meat, birds and mice never seem to come amiss. Somewhat late 

 in the breeding season she scrapes out a rude sort of nest, and sits- 

 most perseveringly in it for several weeks ; and although eggs have 

 several tiuies been introduced into the nest while she has been away 

 feeding, upon her return she has invariably broken them with her bill, 

 and swallowed most of their contents. Towards the end of September 

 the head becomes spotted with light brownish gray, remaining in that 

 state until the following spring. One winter, during a long-continued 

 fi-ost, she was attacked by two hooded crows, but compelled them 

 both to retreat, although not until after a terrible battle, in which she 

 nearly lost her life. Lesser blackbacked gulls do not acquire their 

 adult plumage until the end of the third year : a bird a year old has 

 the back mottled with bluish black and various shades of light 

 brown. 



Swallow. — A summer rarely passes without our seeing a few swal- 

 lows. On the 24th of September four of these birds visited the shore, 

 and remained there for several days. I have only heard of one 

 instance of its breeding in Shetland. Strangers to these islands are 

 often misled by the statement of the inhabitants that it breeds abun- 

 dantly in many parts ; but it is the storm petrel which is here known 

 by the name of " swallow," as well as by the more common name of 

 *' spencie." 



