114 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



It is probable that gulls take advantage of ascending currents of 

 air when they soar in circles without perceptible wing beat. In 

 descending from a height they often glide, or vol-plane in the modern 

 language of the aviator, with amazing speed at a steep angle. At 

 other times, as remarked above, they descend almost vertically by 

 tipping first to one side and then to the other, with a suddenness that 

 suggests falling. The last 20 or 30 feet is often accomplished slowly 

 with upstretched wings and downstretched legs. There are very 

 few birds whose flight is more beautiful or which will so well repay 

 study as that of the herring gull. 



In flight the feet are stretched behind under the tail, where they 

 can be seen ; but it is not very rare to discover a gull flying with one 

 or both feet imbedded in the feathers of the breast, entirely covered 

 or showing only a bit of the darker surface of the feet. I can hardly 

 believe that this is for the sake of warmth, for it may occur on com- 

 paratively warm days; while even in the coldest weather the great 

 majority of gulls fly with their feet exposed behind. In quick turns 

 the feet are sometimes dropped, as if to aid in holding the air like a 

 centerboard. They are also dropped as they approach the water.^ 

 and at times dangle for several seconds as the birds rise into the air. 

 Rising from the water or beach is easily accomplished against a 

 strong wind, but in calm weather the bird is obliged to run along 

 the sand or water for a variable distance before it can rise above the 

 surface. 



Although gulls are able to swim rapidly when winged and unable 

 to fly, they rarely swim any distance under natural conditions. Their 

 buoyant position on the water, with elevated tails, is w^ell expressed by 

 Oliver Wendell Holmes when he says : 



The gull, high floating like a sloop unladen. 



The young just out of the ^gg are rapid swimmers and instinctively 

 take to the water. 



It is said by some writers that the herring gull never dives. This 

 statement is, however, incorrect, as has already been shown in de- 

 scribing the feeding habits. In fact, under exceptional circum- 

 stances the herring gull dives as well as a tern. 



The vocal powers of the herring gull have a wide range. This is 

 particularly the case during the breeding season, when they indulge 

 in all sorts of sounds, uttered it may be in conversational manner, in 

 moods of love and passion, or anger and fear. Writers have described 

 these sounds by syllables or by comparisions with other sounds in 

 nature. Thus Ward (1906) says: 



Sometimes one hears sounds like the lowing of cattle, except that the pitch 

 is higher, like the bleating of sheep, the mewing or snarling of cats, the cluck- 

 ing of hens, the crowing of cocks, hoarse human chuckles, and sounds for which 

 I could find no comparisons. 



