4 
HERON. 
they sought on the eommanding position offered by the bank. When alarmed by our approaeh they would 
naturally throw Up some of their prey in order to lighten themselves before taking wing. Sueh tactics are 
often employed by the larger Gulls ; and being w^ell aware of the fact when making notes on these birds, I now 
and then fired a bullet or two into the flocks resting on the rocks on the shores of the Eirth of Eorth in order 
to cause confusion in their ranks as they made off, and in hopes of ascertaining whether they had been feedino- 
inland or at sea along the coast *. 
* This fact is referred to under the heading of the Herring-Gull, page 1. 
