FOOD OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 141 



water be of any depth the fish very often escapes, but still 

 I have seen a number caught, and during a season the 

 quantity destroyed must be considerable. 



The Black-headed Gull is not to be compared with the 

 Tern as a capturer of fish. A good place to observe its 

 powers, or limitations, of diving is afforded on the Tay at 

 Perth. A considerable stream runs in a covered drain under 

 the South Inch, and enters the river a short distance south 

 of the railway bridge. As the stream is constantly carrying 

 down kitchen and other refuse, a large number of Gulls 

 congregate at the outlet, and at a distance of a few yards it 

 is amusing to watch the efforts they make to secure food 

 that may be floating a foot or so below the surface of the 

 water. They plunge down like a Tern, and as they strike 

 the water the wings are extended vertically over the back, 

 and although their bodies may be quite submerged, there is 

 always a portion of the wings, usually from the carpal joints 

 to the tips, above the surface. I have never seen them go 

 completely under the water, and an object a couple of feet 

 down is quite beyond their reach. 



There is a trait in the habits of the Gull that I do not 

 remember to have seen recorded. During the winter and 

 early spring they consistently rob the Lapwings of their food. 

 A Gull will take up a position close to a feeding Lapwing, 

 and when the latter picks up a worm or grub, the former 

 immediately flies towards it, and forces it to drop the morsel, 

 which is then appropriated by the robber. This is a very 

 common habit of the Gull in this district. 



The Black-headed as well as other varieties of Gulls 

 have increased enormously in many districts, owing to 

 protection ; and it has become a question whether that 

 protection should not now be relaxed. There is a danger 

 when a species becomes too numerous for its natural food- 

 supply, that it may be forced to adopt some undesirable habit, 

 and to avoid such a risk it appears desirable that it be 

 removed from the list of protected birds. As it has few 

 natural enemies, there is no danger of its numbers being very 

 materially reduced. 



In conclusion, I consider it, on the whole, to be an 

 extremely useful as well as an extremely beautiful bird. 



