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TIIF. WESTERN' GULL. 



(luUs arc indiscriminate feeders, and all is grist which conies to Iheir 

 mill. 'J'liis species is chargeil with a discreditable weakness for birds' 

 eggs; and according to Finley and others, an adult Western makes noth- 

 ing of swallowing a voung ]\Inrrc or a squab Cormorant in the absence 

 of vigilant [jarents. This stigma, b\' the wa\", dues not attach to Glaucous- 

 winged Gulls, for 1 ha\e spent weeks with them withe mt witnessing any 

 misbelu'u'inr. 



Fish ciMi'.titute the staple diet nf the gulls, and the binls i|uarter the 



sea at a considerable height luitil some indica- 

 tion of a tra\elling school is noted. Tell-tale 

 haste on the part of an\' one bird is rem;ii-ked 

 1)\' distant conu'ades, and all hurry tn the scene 

 of slaughter. Ivxcited screan;s ])nblish the 

 news still uvvv widelw if the ])rospect is a good 

 one, and a thousantl birds may join the feast 

 before the bewildered fisli realize 



'"••■■'"^^aB^. 'i-^, 



that the\- are fvu'nishing both 

 mirth and meat, and go below. 

 The Indians take pro]ier ad- 

 \autage of this hsii-tiuding i)ro- 

 pensitN- nn the ])art of the gulls, 

 .and when the birds f')llow the 

 smell ashore at La Push, a shout 

 runs thru the \'illage, and the 

 seines are hurried out. 



Wlien the birds are surfeited, 

 ;iccordiug to Mr. Bowles, a game 

 cif t;ig is indulged in. One catches 

 ;i herring, and instead of eating it, 

 llies with the fish hanging from 

 its i)ill, past three or four com- 

 rades. These acce]it the challenge, 

 and rush madK .after, while the pursued goes thru all sorts of evolu- 

 tions in seeking td elude them. If overtaken, the order of chase is re- 

 versed, and the game goes merrily cm until all ;ire tired. The hsli, or tag 

 trophy, is \v>[ eaten, but is dropped upnu the i)la\--grnnn(l in a condition 

 decidedlx- the worse for wear. 



Giants' Cra'.-ryard Groiif^, 



Pholu by Ihc .-Uilluir 



AN.MC'S ni-:.\DSTO.\E. 



A WESTKRN GULI. ON THE SUMMIT. 



