40 NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. 



the rixer, or at least not directly across it, and the birds have 

 always approached the feeding place against the wind, unless the 

 breeze is very light indeed. A gull comes along at speed close 

 beside the wall until within a few^ yards of the spot, when down 

 go both legs, and tlie outspread webbed feet are violently paddled 

 in a direction contrary to the motion of running or swimming and 

 speed is instantly slackened. Sometimes a more than usually 

 skilful bird will, by the aid of tail, feet and wings, jerk itself into 

 an upright position, and then with rapid strokes of wings and legs 

 Hy and drift backwards wTth the wind for a few moments. The 

 purpose is to hang as long as possible opposite the spot whence the 

 expected morsel will appear. When the piece of bread is thrown 

 up, all the birds close enough dash for it, and that one which 

 chances to be nearest, or is quickest in its movements, obtains 

 the prize. The legs seem quite as useful for steering as the 

 tails. I was very astonished when I first noticed this power of 

 kicking forwards, which is so effective. If the bird wishes to 

 slow up and change its direction at the same time, one foot alone 

 is dropped, and when wheeling suddenly to left or right the 

 opposite foot pushes on the air just as a man would use his 

 hands when turning in the w-ater. It is clear that the bird which 

 has attained the greatest skill in stopping its w^ay has the best 

 chance of being in a favourable spot for a dash at the food when 

 thrown up, and this skill can hardly have been obtained when 

 haw^king cockchafers' and must be largely developed by this 

 particular fashion of feeding the gulls. It would not be sufficient 

 for a bird merely to approach at a slow and even rate, because 

 one which did this would pass the spot a fewer number of times 

 per hour than one which was able to fly quickly as soon as it 

 had passed, and, coming round at speed, slow up suddenly in the 

 important place. Of those birds also, which happen to be 

 sufficiently near when the food is thrown up, the one which is 

 most skilful in steering has the best chance of catching it. The 

 gulls will soon be leaving London for the breeding places in the 

 Essex marshes. Now, at the end of February, they are 

 beginning to deserve the title " black-headed." During most of 

 the winter their heads are of snowy whiteness. — F. W. Elliott, 

 Buckhnvst Hill, Essex, Fehvuary 2jt]i, 1903. 



I " In the months of May and June they are very busy in the pursuit and destruction of 

 the cockchafer."- I\Ir. Hill in Christy's Birds of Essex, p. 266. 



