BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 437 
a few pairs may be constantly seen upon the Annan, fifteen 
miles from its mouth, passing and re-passing daily from the 
sea ; at this time it is not very shy, and before being dis- 
turbed, will sail along the river within shot, only in passing 
gives utterance to its alarm note."* 
The Lesser Black-backed Gull is more frequently seen 
inland than the preceding species, though it is better known 
on or near the coast throughout the year excepting in mid- 
winter. At this season, our locally-bred birds probably 
migrate south, since the absence of the species from the 
county is then often very conspicuous. It is a very unwelcome 
visitor inland in spring, for, besides being very destructive to 
the eggs and young of both moorland-game and wild-fowl, 
it often attacks lambs. Happening to call on Mr. R. Service 
on April 10th, 1908, he told me that that very morning a 
farmer from Eskdale had complained to him of its de- 
structive habits in that district. I saw three specimens of 
this species, in various phases of plumage, in Mr. Martin's 
collection at Dardarroch ; and he told me that the offal 
from the butcher's shop at Dunscore attracted many, and 
that they were great robbers. They are also often seen on 
the Nith, certainly as far from the sea as Thornhill. 
Mr. W. Wright informs me that although he has never 
noticed the Black-headed Gull taking fish, he considers it 
has been a mistake to give so much protection to other gulls, 
as in his opinion they do immense damage to salmon-smolts 
while they are descending the river to the sea. Mr. Wright 
adds that in August, 1906, he saw " one large gull take five 
herhng (apparently J lb. each) and devour them in the space 
of twenty minutes, and watch for more." The gull here re- 
ferred to may well have been L. fuscus, which is known to 
be very inimical to fishing interests. Neither this species 
nor the Great Black-backed Gull is protected under the 
Wilds Birds Protection Act in Dumfriesshire ; and in spite 
of persecution, a colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, which 
is said to be increasing, and to number some two to three 
* Nat. Lib., 1843, Vol. XIV., p. 303. 
