78 XF.W ZEALAND BIRDS. 



ingly, Tvalking and flying after him, and then quietly standing by till 

 sometliing is captured, when he raises his Avings and makes a dash at 

 it. The Oyster-catclicr nniy sueceed in flying oft with his prey ; hut 

 the plunderer, being swifter on the wing, pursues, overtakes, and com- 

 pels a surrender. The gentleman of the long bill looks gravely on 

 while his crab is being devoured ; and, having seen the last of it, he 

 gives a stifled whistle, and trots off in search of another, his eager 

 attendant following suit. 



" It frequents our harbours in large numbers, hovering round the 

 shipping, and associating freely with the Black-backed Gull ; but, 

 although it often follows the vessel from its anchorage, it does not 

 venture so far out to sea as its larger congener/' — Buller. 



113. Larus bulleri. Ilutton. 



Black-billed Gull. 

 (Plate XXXII.) 

 Like scopuUnus, but the first three quills arc white, margined with black, all tipped with 

 wliite ; spurious wing, white ; legs and feet, red in the adult, reddish-black in the young ; 

 bill, reddish-black in the adult, black in the j'ouug. 

 L., 14; W., II 05; B., 2; T, 1-55. 

 Hab. — Both Islands, on inland lakes. 



" The Black-billed Gull breeds on the Waiau river-bed ; and one 

 or more pairs usually frequent Lake Guyon after the breeding-season 

 is over. On one occasion a pair of these birds, having by some means 

 or other lost their own brood, returned to the lake earlier than tisual. 

 I brought up a young bird belonging to another brood, and placed it 

 on the lake ; and the bereaved parents at once took to it, tending it 

 with the greatest care and solicitude. It is extremely interesting to 

 watch these birds in their ordinary search for food during windy 

 weather. The prevalent Avinds blow either up or down the lake ; and, 

 when seeking food, the birds soar against the wind along the margin 

 of the lake on one side, until they reach its extremity, when they at 

 once turn and run down before the wind to the other end, where they 

 recommence their soaring flight. But the most singular circumstance 

 is that in the main valley they pursue various species of moths, which 

 occur in large niimbers amongst the tussock grasses, and especially in 

 scdgv patches occupied ])y standing Avater. I could not for some 

 time make out the object of their peculiar flight ; but a friend of 

 mine (Mr. R. W. Fereday, of Christchurch), Avho Avas lately on a visit 

 with me for the purpose of collecting the Lcpidoptera of the district, 

 whilst pursuing a large moth, observed one of these Gulls swoop at 

 and capture it. We then noticed that some Aa^c or six of the birds 

 were busily engaged in feeding on the moths, pursuing them veiy 

 much as inseetiA-orous birds would do. The birds Avhich frequent 



