9588 Birds. 



Lafwing. — Between the 3id and the 17th considerable numbers of 

 lapwings arrived at intervals, and at once proceeded to their breeding 

 stations, but as yet there is no appearance of nests. 



Herring Gull. — Herring gulls are returning to the cliffs in which 

 they breed, and, as is always the case in the pairing season, they now 

 soar to a vast height and utter loud cries. At this time also, large 

 flocks are to be seen closely following the plough, and while thus 

 engaged they seem to be quite fearless, although at other times they 

 are rather shy. They are also fond of visiting newly-sown fields, 

 where they consume a very large quantity of grain ; nevertheless, they 

 are seldom n)olested while thus employed, the service which they 

 render by destroying grubs and worms being considered cheaply pur- 

 chased at the cost of such of the seed as is left uncovered by the soil. 

 It is said that in consequence of this habit the stomach becomes 

 unusually thickened in spring; this may be true, but among most of 

 the sea-birds which 1 have examined I have observed great irregularity 

 in this respect. In the herring gull especially the coats of the stomach 

 have been as much thickened in autumn as in spring, and again in the 

 latter season they have been unusually thin. In spring and summer 

 these birds often come inland ; long before sunrise I have seen the 

 lawn at Haliigarth whitened with llieir numbers, and from the 

 examiualiun of individuals shot in like situations i am inclined to 

 believe that they visit them for the sake of feeding upon the small 

 gray slugs which abound before the dew leaves the grass. About noon, 

 after a hard morning's work in the fields, flocks of herring gulls visit 

 the fresh-water lochs, where they will remain for hours dipping and 

 trimming their plumage. 



Guillemot and Kiltiivake. — The number of guillemots and kitli- 

 wakes is steadily increasing, and, although they will not lay for some 

 weeks yet, they began to return to the rocks about the 17lh. 



Puffins. — Puffins are returning to their breeding-places in their 

 usual numbers. For some weeks after their arrival upon the coast 

 none are to be seen in the cliffs, but about the middle of March they 

 regularly visit their burrows a little before sunset, remaining there until 

 early next morning. During the day they are only to be observed 

 either upon the water or flying a little above the surface, and then it is 

 very difficult to get near them, for upon arriving here they are very 

 wild, and almost the only sure method of obtaining a shot is by waiting 

 under the cliffs in the evening or about a couple of hours before 

 sunrise. 



Redlhroaled Diver. — On the 8th a nxlthroated diver was caught by 



