?xvii THE LARGER BLACK-BACKED GULL 747 



shore of the lake some weeks afterwards, when the birds had 

 hatched, and whole fleets of young gulls of a dark grey colour 

 were swimming about. A young retriever I had with me swam 

 into the water after them. He had scarcely got twenty yards 

 from the shore when the whole community of gulls attacked 

 him, and not content with harmless threats, struck down on the 

 dog with right good will ; and I am convinced that his life was 

 only saved by my keeping up a constant fire on the large black- 

 headed gulls, which, in defence of their young, made common 

 cause with the others, and, from their great weight and strength^ 

 were most dangerous assailants. When lounging, gun in hand, 



GULLS COMING INLAND 



on the sea-shore here, or lying in weight for seals, I have frequerjt 

 opportunities of watching unobserved the proceedings of the 

 gulls of different kinds. The large black-backed gull soars 

 slowly along the edge of the receding tide, with his sharp eye 

 fixed on the beach, and turning his head and neck to observe 

 every object that may be left by the tide. If anything is seen 

 which his omnivorous appetite covets, down he pitches on it, 

 and with his powerful bill soon tears up and swallows it. The 

 sand-eel or small fish is swallowed whole. If a floating prize 

 presents itself, such as the remains of a large fish or dead bird, 

 it is soon discovered by one of the large gulls, who is not 

 allowed, however, to enjoy his prize alone ; for every one of his 

 fellows within sight joins in tearing it to pieces. When I have 

 winged a duck, and it has escaped and gone out to sea, I have 



