LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
497 
leave the coast, and winging its way far inland, will make 
its nest upon the margin of some lake, or island surrounded 
by its waters. I have had the eggs from a small island 
in the lake of Ullswater, where I have seen the birds 
during the summer season. 
No class of birds is so unerring or so regular in their 
time of breeding, as those which inhabit the ocean; whilst 
most of our land birds have been, for two months or more, 
irregularly engaged either in building their nests, in incu¬ 
bation, or have already reared their young ones; they 
have deferred it to a much later period, and urged by one 
impulse, the numerous species which inhabit these islands 
resort to them at once, and all is noise and bustle. This 
occurs every year upon the Fern Islands, within a few 
days of the same date of time, the first or second week 
of June. This late period of their breeding is no doubt 
influenced by the weather, which, at an earlier season, 
would, in situations so exposed, be too severe for the 
rearing of their young ones. After these birds have 
begun to sit, they become very bold and daring in the 
protection of their eggs. Whilst amongst them, I was 
amused by one, near the nest of which I was sitting; it 
retired to a certain distance to give it full force in its 
attack, and then making a stoop at my head, came within 
two or three yards of me, repeating its attack without 
ceasing, till I left the place. 
Mr. Darling, under whose hospitable roof at the light¬ 
house I have enjoyed many pleasant hours during my 
various visits to these islands, informs me, that the bon¬ 
net of an old woman, who was in the habit of gathering 
the eggs of the sea-gulls, was riddled through and through, 
and almost torn to pieces, by their bills. 
