106 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



The gulls are able to perform their soaring movements 

 on the same plane in all phases of the weather, during the 

 most violent storm as well as in a perfect calm, pressing 

 forwards or athwartwise at the most diversified rates of 

 velocity ; now skimming along with the fleetness of an 

 arrow, then merely gliding, as it were, at the slowest pace 

 imaginable. 



One is almost led to the belief that these birds must have 

 at their command some unknown means or mechanism 

 which prevents their sinking ; for neither is the surface- 

 area of their wings large enough, nor are these organs 

 sufficiently concave in form, to allow of their supporting 

 the bird after the manner of a parachute. 



It has been conjectured that this upward soaring flight 

 of birds is accomplished by vibratory movements of the 

 separate feathers. But this theory has been seriously dis- 

 counted by observations carried out by eminent au- 

 thorities on bird-life. 



During a heavy storm these large gulls soar about at 

 heights of at least a thousand feet with the same de- 

 meanour as in the most perfect calm. Direction of wind, 

 contrary or otherwise, makes no difference. At one time 

 they may be seen soaring quite slowly to and fro, at an- 

 other dashing with unusual haste towards some object 

 sighted in the distance ; very frequently they will remain 

 poised motionless at one spot apparently for the space of 

 minutes. 



Herring gulls, if reared quite young, become extra- 

 ordinarily tame 



Their nesting quarters extend from Scandinavia west- 

 wards to the Fame Islands, and onward to the central 

 parts of North America, and ofttimes extend their range 

 to the Azores and Canary Islands 



II. 



Birds of prey — though not calculated to make a pleasing 

 impression on the mind of the observer — are objects of 

 utility and interest. They free the countries where they 

 dwell from an immense number of noxious creatures, such 

 as serpents, and some of them at least clear away the 



