116 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



would be repeated again and again. The gull never picked up any 

 food from the water and never molested any ducks swimming near ; 

 and none of them showed any fear, except the one directly flown at, 

 who would always dive before the gull reached it. It seemed to be 

 a matter of play on the part of the gull that was understood as such 

 by the duck, although it is possible that the gull hoped to obtain 

 food. On one occasion I saw a herring gull fly directly at a female 

 American merganser which with another was being courted by a 

 male. The merganser flew vigorously away just as the gull alighted. 

 Then began an active chase by short flights on the part of the gull, 

 who was eluded by rapid turns and occasional dives on the part of 

 the merganser. Finally the merganser came up close to the two 

 other mergansers, who had remained passive dui'ing the pursuit, but 

 as the gull pounced at the group they all took flight, closely followed 

 by the tyrant. The mergansers easily distanced the gull, who in his 

 eagerness spit out a small fish, but soon after gave up the pursuit 

 and alighted on the ice. 



Well endowed by nature to resist the destructive agencies of storm 

 and cold, with practically no enemies among birds and mammals, 

 the herring guU would indeed be a prosperous species were it not for 

 the arch enemy, man. Fortunately, at the present date, the idea of 

 bird preservation from an esthetic as well as from a utilitarian point 

 of view is gaining ground, and since the beginning of the present cen- 

 tury the herring gull has been more and more protected from gun- 

 ners and eggers. 



With many the benefit derived from this gull in sanitation (the 

 removal from harbors of floating organic matter) is a strong argu- 

 ment in favor of protection. In the past, and to a large extent in 

 such out-of-the way regions as Labrador at the present day, these 

 gulls were and are incessantly persecuted during the breeding sea- 

 son. Their eggs are highly valued as a food supply, and the young 

 are cooped up and fattened for eating. Adult birds are shot for food 

 or for mere sport. It is fortunate that such practices are now 

 frowned upon in all well-regulated communities. 



A destructive agency of the young at breeding colonies is the surf 

 on the shore. In stormy weather when the waves are high many 

 young gulls, still unable to fly, are killed by being dashed on the 

 rocks. 



Like many other birds, it is probable that herring gulls enjoy con- 

 siderable longevity, barring accidents. American ornithologists are 

 familiar with the case of " Gull Dick," often reported by Mackay in 

 " The Auk." For 24 years this bird — easily recognized by markings, 

 voice, and disposition — visited the neighborhood of the Brenton's 

 Reef Lightship in Narragansett Bay. Here it stayed from about 



