WATCHING GULLS AND SKUAS 97 



brown of the heather. They are not at all crowded, 

 but scattered widely about at irregular and, for the 

 most part, considerable intervals. There is rarely a 

 group, and though many pairs may be seen standing 

 closely together, yet this is the exception rather than 

 the rule. Most birds of such pairs as are present are 

 some three or four to a dozen or twenty yards apart, 

 whilst the greater number of the whole assembly stand 

 singly, the bird nearest to each, at a much greater 

 distance, being one of another pair. This is because 

 the partner birds are for the time being absent, but 

 every now and again one may be seen to fly up and 

 join the solitary one, whilst, similarly, one of a couple 

 will from time to time fly off" and leave the other 

 alone. Thus, though the eye will distinguish at any 

 time many paired couples, to the majority of the 

 birds it will not be able to assign a partner with 

 certainty. But this varies very much. On some 

 occasions there will be many more close couples than 

 on others, and it is when this is the case that the 

 gullery has the most pleasing appearance. Here 

 and there one sees a bird, not standing, but couched 

 closely down amidst the heather. These birds have 

 laid, and are now hatching, their eggs. For the most 

 part they are alone, but as the season advances and 

 they become more and more numerous, the partner 

 may often be seen standing near the nest, and pre- 

 senting every appearance of a joint interest and 

 proprietorship in it. 



When a bird flies up to its partner it usually comes 



down close beside it. The two will then be together 



for awhile, but soon they either walk or fly to a little 



distance from one another. After remaining apart 



G 



