A NESTING PLACE OF LARUS FUSCUS. 133 
colour, from chocolate-brown with black spots, to light grey with 
black spots. Even in the same nest the colour of the eggs often 
varies greatly. The shape also differs a good deal, some of the 
eggs being quite elliptical, others very pointed at one end. We did 
not stay long at the place, as I did not want to disturb the birds 
more than was necessary, having seen all that was to be seen. In 
the middle of the Gull colony I found a nest and eggs of the 
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, and a very short distance beyond 
a nest and eggs of the Red Grouse, Tetrao scoticus. 
About a quarter of a mile away I lay down to watch the Gulls 
return. It was some time before they did so, and they came one 
by one, flew all round, and alighted near the nest. I did not 
see any go on to the nest, but they walked about and then stood 
usually on a hillock close by the nest. In about an hour it was 
all quiet, a casual Gull flew overhead; but except that, the place 
was still. The white breasts of the birds standing about could be 
seen, but to no very great extent, and it was hard to believe 
that within a few hundred yards there was a large and thriving 
colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. As far as I can make out, 
all the year round chance Gulls may be seen about the place, but 
except at the breeding-time no very great number. I asked the 
keeper if they did any harm to game or fish. He said, “No; it is 
those big ones (meaning the Great Black-backed Gulls) that do 
the mischief; they will kill young birds, young rabbits, and even 
young lambs.” 
I have purposely abstained from mentioning the locality of 
this gullery, for I should greatly regret that the birds should be 
disturbed. The place lies in the regular tourist track, and the 
birds would soon be exterminated if the professional egg-hunter 
or collector was informed of the place. It is not so very far from 
an inland breeding-place of the Cormorant. It would be a pity 
to disturb the colony. I know of no other in a similar place. 

