9 
Gl^EAT BLACK-EACKEU GULL. 
aro (lccid(‘dly omnivorous; carrion, however foul, putrid fish, or any floating refuse, comes hy no means amiss 
n hen more tempting prey is scarce. A dead seal or a drowned sheep cast up on the shore of a Highland loch 
irequently draws a large and mixed party to join in the savoury banquet ; and it is seldom the Great Black- 
hacked Gull is absent from such gatherings. Along the southern and eastern coasts I have repeatedly watched, 
during autumn and winter, numbers of this speeies (for the most part in immature plumage) flying in circles 
over the tide running from some harbour-mouth, or even the outfall of a large drain, contending at times 
with Crows and other scavengers for the most attractive morsels. 
Any one who has spent much time punt-gunning on the Highland tirtlis along the north-east coast during 
the first quarter of the year (in autumn and early winter the Gulls have either not come down from the hills 
or are as yet unaccustomed to this manner of procuring their food) must have been much annoyed by the 
presence of these Black-hacks. No sooner does the gunner make preparations for approaching an un- 
suspecting bunch of fowl, than three or four screaming Gulls gather over the flock, and after flying round 
for a time, their excitement increases as the punt draws near, till at last, darting down open-mouthed, they 
drive every bird from the water and put an end to all chance of a shot. These crafty Gulls are well aware 
that a meal will easily be secured after the discharge, since cripples are sure to escape from the gunner, only 
to fall victims to their powerful beaks. Their hunger, however, urges them to attempt the capture 
before the shot has been tired, and in nine cases out of ten, by these means, they defeat their own 
ends and ruin the punter’s sport. Should these pests by any chance happen to be absent till the cripple-chase 
has commenced, they often drive birds back to the punt. I have seen numbers of wounded Mallard and 
Wigeon so terrified by the attacks of the Gulls that the poor birds have taken wing and pitched down within 
ten or fifteen y^ards of the punt. In some districts, where there has been much shooting, it is useless to 
attempt to get near foAvl by daylight, howcA^er tame they may be, OAving to the voracity of the Gulls. 
In my notes for 1809, Avhile shooting on the Durnoch Eirth, I find that, on IMarcli 15, at least half a 
dozen fair shots at bunches of Pintails, all tine drakes, Avere lost by the Gulls constantly keeping in 
attendance. IVhen at last it Avas obvious that every chance Avould be spoiled, I turned my Avhole attention 
to the Gulls, and Avith punt and shoulder-gun succeeded in administering such a lesson that the fcAV 
survivors gave the punt a Avide berth for the next fcAV days. IVith poison carefully inserted in certain 
portions of a dead foAvl they might easily have been thinned doAvn ; but an unfortunate mishap in the 
district, resulting from this plan, set me against attempting to clear off the Gulls by these means. Small 
birds such as Golden Plover or Dunlins, Avhen falling on the Avater or soft mud, are often carried off by 
these robbers before they^ can be retrieved. 
Though Great Black-l)acks are frequently seen during Avinter on the large broads in the eastern 
counties, and many wounded birds often fall to their share, I ha\^e never found they interfered in the 
slightest degree Avith the sport, keeping usually at a respectful distance, and simply picking up any 
cripjfles that succeeded in making their escape in the first instance. On January 1, 1873, I captured 
on Hickley Broad a tine adult in Avintcr plumage in a vermin-trap set for the benefit of some Grey 
CroAvs that had been perpetually carrying off the Indian corn and other food supplied to my decoy. 
Ducks. The trap Avas placed a fcAV yards outside the Ducks’ enclosure, a dead Pochard drake being employed 
as bait. The folloAving description of this specimen is extracted from my notes; — “Head slightly speckled 
Avith grey feathers. Eye silvery Avhite, with vermilion circle. Beak bright chrome-yelloAV ; dark orange 
spot on loAver mandible Avith purple mark in centre. Interior of mouth pale salmon tint. Legs and feet 
a pale flesh.” 
Game-preserving and the increased number of tourists A’isiting all the most easily accessible quarters 
liaA’C during the |)ast tAAcnty y’cars thinned doAvn the number of these fine birds in many parts of the 
Highlands, traps clearing off the adults, Avhile the eggs and doAvny young fall prizes to the Avandering 
