190 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



numbers of Black-Headed Gulls which once 

 nested on the mosses, that Kittiwake used 

 to feed his old shaggy horse upon their eggs 

 for two or three weeks during the breeding 

 season. Morning and evening he collected a 

 basketful, and so long as the eggs lasted, 

 Dobbin's coat was always soft and sleek. Years 

 subsequent to this the plough invaded the sea- 

 birds' haunt, and now a small town occupies 

 the site of the once famous Gullerv. 



In addition to his nets and snares, the only 

 fowling-piece that Kittiwake ever deigned to 

 use was an old flintlock with tremendously long 

 barrels. Sometimes it went off; oftener it did 

 not. I remember with what desperation I 

 upon one occasion clung to this murderous 

 weapon whilst it meditated, so to speak. It is 

 true that it brought down quite a wisp of 

 Dunlins, but then there was almost a cloud of 

 them to fire at. These and Golden Plover were 

 the game for the flintlock, and the old man was 

 peculiarly successful. He was abroad on the 

 marshes at dawn ; and at that time plover fly 

 in close bodies or feed in the same relation. 

 Sometimes a dozen birds would be bagged at 

 one shot. But the chief product of Kittiwake's 



