248 IVILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



frequently seen it attacked and devoured almost alive by these 

 birds. If a dead fish is left on the shore they alight a few feet 

 from it, and, having reconnoitred carefully, fall to and devour 

 it. It is interesting to see these strong birds battling against 

 a high wind, always working to windward, and taking advantage 

 of every headland and cliff for a moment's shelter. When going 

 to windward in their search for food (indeed, they never fly 

 down wind if they can help it), and perceiving something edible, 

 they keep on a short distance beyond it, and then drifting back 

 with the wind, drop down upon it. I saw a seal last week 

 (April) which had caught k salmon, and was eating it above the 

 water. A number of large gulls had collected round him, and 

 seemed inclined to dispute his prize, darting down at it with 

 clamorous cries. The large grey gull, or wagel, hunts the shore 

 in much the same manner ; but is still more voracious than the 

 black-backed gull. Nothing comes amiss to this greedy bird. 

 I have seen a dozen of them feeding on a dead and putrid 

 horse, digging it out with their powerful bills like so many 

 ravens. I have no doubt a dead human being would be con- 

 sidered a fair and lawful prize also. While I am lying ensconced 

 on the shore for seals, this bird frequently comes hovering over 

 me, as if well inclined to pounce down. If wounded, he does 

 good battle against my retriever, aiming (like a heron) at the 

 eyes. When shot, he often disgorges a great quantity of food, 

 generally small fish ; and on one occasion a wounded wagel 

 brought up, amongst a variety of undigested food, a well-sized 

 young kitten, which he had somewhere made prize of. The 

 grey gull, though frequently feeding in the fields, seems very 

 seldom to take to fresh-water lakes. The next-sized gull which 

 is common here is the blue-back, a beautiful clean-looking bird, 

 though, as far as fish is concerned, as great a glutton as the two 

 last-named kinds. This bird is particularly conspicuous in its 

 attacks on the salmon-fry as they descend the river in May. 

 Thousands of them fish in the shallow pools at low-water in 

 the bay, and every bird seems to feed wholly on these silvery 

 little creatures as long as they are to be had. The quantity 

 that they disgorge when shot is perfectly astonishing, and they 

 must be one of the most destructive enemies that the salmon 

 has. Besides these larger kinds of gulls, there are several smaller 

 specieSj who hover constantly about the shore and sand'banks, 



