GREATER BLACK BACKED GULL, 
501 
NA TA TORES. 
LA RID At. 
GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
LARUS MARIN US. 
PLATE CXLL FIG. I. 
The Great Black-backed Gull, besides a few locali¬ 
ties on tlie English and Scottish coasts, breeds in abund¬ 
ance on the Orkney and Shetland Islands; but from the 
care with which it selects one that is difficult of access, 
either from the precipitous nature of its rocky sides, or 
from its being surrounded by the waters of some inland 
lake, where no boat has ever been, is confined to a few of 
them. On a rock thus situated—for it had always been 
considered inaccessible, though within a few feet of the 
island of Noss—these birds had for many years found a 
secure retreat, till, stimulated by a desire to procure the 
numerous eggs which covered its grassy top, which could 
be seen from the neighbouring cliffs, a peasant succeeded 
in climbing to its summit, and when there, of making 
fast a rope thrown from the opposite rock, and thus esta¬ 
blishing a communication for after years; the benefit of 
which he, poor fellow ! never lived to see, for he was 
killed in his descent. This communication still exists in 
the shape of a double rope, which being passed through 
holes in the side of a large box, it is suspended and easily 
drawn across. The eggs being thus carried off, sheep are 
conveyed over to pasture on the rich grass produced by 
