THE SEA MEWS AND ROOKS. 
289 
well as far inland, where, when the fields have been cleared 
of their produce, and ploughed to prepare them for another 
crop, the Sea Maws or Sea Mews, as they are often called, 
appear in large flocks, looking, at a distance, like flecks of 
sea foam cast upon the surface of the brown mould, busily 
engaged picking up the worms and larvae that have been 
exposed ; sometimes in company Avith a troop of rooks, 
whose sable plumage offers a strong contrast to the delicate 
tints of the Gulls. 
When the country becomes covered with snow, they 
retreat to the shores, and return again when the thaws have 
partially exposed their feeding ground. During the w^inter, 
they almost entirely desert the northern sterile parts of 
Scotland, and advance south Avard; but their favourite 
breeding places are the islands and along the coasts of that 
country, and thither, when spring advances, they betake 
themselves, and may there be found congregated in vast 
numbers, in company with other members of their family, 
and many other sea birds. Macgillivray says that the lower 
parts of the craggy cliffs, rocky peninsulas, and small unfre- 
quented islands are their favourite stations. I have often, 
however, found their nests in the turf along with those of 
the Herring Gulls. They are composed generally of fuci, 
occasionally of grass, bits of turf, and other vegetable sub- 
stances. The eggs, generally three, sometimes two, are of 
a broadly ovate form, white, or yellowish brown, of greyish 
green, sometimes approaching to white, dotted and spotted 
with dark brown or purplish grey. 
Macgillivray describes this species as having 
A light buoyant flight, during which it often inclines to either 
side. It walks and runs prettily with short steps, pats the sands at 
the edge of the water with its feet, emits a shrill, somewhat harsh 
cry, and is apt to give the alarm to other birds at the approach of 
the sportsman. It is not, however, nearly so timid, or at least so 
sensible of danger, as the larger Gulls, and either in the fields, or on 
the seashore, often allows a person to come within shot. Often, also, 
when one has been killed or wounded, its companions, after flying 
off, collect again, hover around, or even alight, when £ome of them 
may often be obtained. When feeding along with rooks, in pasture 
ground, they are often found to be less wary than these birds, 
especially in places where they are not much liable to be molested. 
T 
