192 
scoLorACiD.^:. 
Herring Gull. Another from the same place is of a very 
peculiar grayish-hrown colour, nearly as dark as a Eed-throated 
Diver’s egg, and obscurely spotted with two darker shades of 
the same tint. The young are difficult to find, and nearly as 
difficult to overtake, even when only a few hours old. 
The Shetlanders regard with horror the very idea of using 
so uncanny a bird as food ; indeed, I am acquainted with a 
visitor who, having made the bold attempt, was for some time- 
afterwards frequently alluded to almost in a whisper as ‘‘ the 
man that ate the Whaup.” As for the '‘uncanny” associations 
attaching to the Whaup, he would be at no loss to understand 
them who had chanced to be the companion of some of my 
lonely night walks across the hills in summer, when these 
birds and the Whimbrels have come dashing over my head, 
uttering their loud cries, — wild enough at any time, but sound- 
ing almost unearthly when mingled with the yelping of the 
Common Gull and the mysterious drumming and clicking 
of the Snipe upon the desolate peat moors at midnight. 
THE WHIMBEEL. 
Numcnius plmopus. 
TANG WIIAUP — PEERIE"^ WHAUP. 
Though less frequent than the Curlew, the Whimbrel is 
nevertheless well known, and in spring it is sometimes even 
alnindant. Small flocks of from four or five up to about 
twenty birds arrive with great regularity in the middle of 
April, and are then so tame that they may be walked up to 
boldly by any one who cares to shoot them. At this time they 
frequent the gmssy slopes and meadows near the shore, but 
prefer to feed among tlie rocks at low water, whence they 
derive their local name; the word tang being apjffied by the 
Shetlanders to most 'of the larger seaweeds. After a few days 
* The Shetland word “peerie” corresponds in every respect -with the 
Enf>lish tiny, and the Scotch wee. 
