46 MUTTON BIRDS 



Gulls thus in turn secured a scanty meal, and 

 each in turn absolutely i-espected his mate's 

 proprietary rights. A share was never asked 

 for, no, nor even a hint of hunger overtly 

 expressed, — a restraint and self-control the 

 moi'e remarkable from the evident desire of one 

 of the pair for further food. I saw this bird 

 standing within a foot or two of its gorging, 

 guzzling companion and simulating the actions 

 of the latter to the life, rending, dabbing, and 

 shaking. 



In at least one species of bird known to me 

 excitement of the amatory feeling through the 

 imagination will cause an exact reproduction of 

 many of the actions proper to performance, but 

 before I had witnessed the ecstasy of this Black- 

 backed Gull I had believed that only the master 

 passion could have afforded such a manifesta- 

 tion. 



A Gull never places his feet on his capture; 

 it is torn, and dabbed, and shaken to pieces, and 

 always after feeding the bird scrupulously 

 washes himself. 



Sti'anded whales, and black fish, surf -beaten 

 birds, dead fish, and drifting krang, all afford 

 a meal ; nor does the bird always confine himself 

 to carrion. On one occasion I saw a Black- 

 backed Gull attack a weakly Petrel which, after 

 a short flight from the island, had alighted on 

 the ocean. There it was immediately seized 

 u])on by a Gull who at first attempted to fly off 

 with his prize, but later dropped the unfortunate 

 bird into the sea where it was worried to death. 



The sight of the Black-backed Gull is remark- 

 ably keen; and whilst in the screen ni}^ least 

 movement, however protracted, caused instant 



