CHAP. XXVII BLACK-HEADED GULLS 245 



by that splendid bird, the great black-backed gull, Larus marinus, 

 or by the small but elegant black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus 

 of Linnaeus, or as Bufifon, alluding also to its laugh-like cry, calls 

 it, la Mouetie rieuse. Yet, if closely observed, every kind of gull 

 has its own peculiar ways and habits, all of which are worthy 

 of note, and adapted to its own manner of feeding and providing 

 for its wants. During March and April the black-headed gull, 

 which has been absent during the winter, returns in innumerable 

 flocks. After sunset they hold long consultations on the sands 

 of the bay, and when the night is calm I can hear them from 

 my windows at the distance of nearly two miles chattering and 

 clamouring for hours together. In the daytime they frequent 

 the fields, and wherever a plough is at work there are the black- 

 headed gulls in thousands, hovering over the ploughman's head, 

 and keeping up such a continual screaming, that I have seen 

 both man and horses fairly bewildered by the noise. A man 

 left his plough and came to me the other day, as I was passing 

 in the next field, to beg me to fire a shot or two at these noisy 

 and uninvited followers. As fast as a worm or grub is turned 

 up by the plough, down drop two or three gulls to scramble for 

 it. In this manner they soon get the necessary supply of food, 

 and return to join the assembly on the sands, where, having 

 drunk and bathed, they remain for the rest of the day. After 

 passing a fortnight or more in this manner, they betake them- 

 selves to their breeding-place, which is generally either some rushy 

 and quiet pool or island on some mountain lake, where they 

 can breed and rear their young unmolested. There are several 

 lochs in this neighbourhood where they breed. One they chiefly 

 resort to is a small piece of water in the forest of Darnaway, 

 where they are not allowed to be annoyed or disturbed during 

 the time of incubation. In these places their nests are placed 

 as close as possible to each other, and from the constant noise 

 and flying backwards and forwards of the birds, one would 

 suppose that the greatest confusion must prevail amongst their 

 crowded commonwealth, but every bird knows and attends to 

 her own nest, and though their cries sound angry and harsh, 

 the greatest amity and the strictest peace are preserved. Though 

 crossing and jostling each other in all directions, they never 

 appear to quarrel or fight. On the contrary, the birds all unite 

 and make common cause against any eneiny, man or beast, 



