112 THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S GUIDE 



Larus fuscuSj Linn. Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull. — This bird regularly visits Shetland and 

 Orkney in the breeding-season, but is not numer- 

 ous, and is confined to a few situations ; I found 

 it most plentiful on the lakes in the parish o* 

 Northmaven, in the former country. It breeds 

 and rears its young on the small islands in the 

 inland lakes, depositing the eggs among the short 

 grass and moss. The natives visit the islands on 

 floats generally twice during the breeding-season, 

 for the purpose of collecting the eggs. In the day- 

 time this bird may be found feeding in low swam- 

 py places in the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 lakes. It sometimes visits the sea-shore, but 

 seldom leaves the land. This species is easily 

 distinguished from any other of its race. It is 

 smaller than the Herring Gull, the feathers on the 

 back and wings are much darker, and the legs are 

 yellow. 



Lestris Cataractes, Temm. Bonxie*. Skua 

 Gull. Brown Gull. — I never saw this bird in 

 Orkney, and there are only three places in Shet- 

 land where it breeds, viz. Foula, Rona's Hill, and 

 the isle of Unst : in the latter place it is by no 

 means numerous, and is strictly preserved by the 



