48 



Bird-Lore 



rock was covered by a scanty soil, forming a colony of goodly size, 

 although by no means crowded. In view of the numbers of old birds 

 circling overhead, the scarcity of eggs and apparent absence of young 

 seemed a little remarkable; but a more careful look showed them all about 

 us, squeezed among the rocks, half concealed under the scanty tufts of grass 

 or, with tightly closed eyes, flattening themselves into some slight depres- 

 sion in the soil. Not one, if memory be not treacherous, was in its nest; 

 and some of the larger birds were a long way from home, skulking along 

 among the rocks in the endeavor to put as much distance as possible 

 between themselves and the unwelcome intruders. A number of young 

 Burgomasters may usually be seen about the village of St. Paul, their legs 



VOING Bl'RGOMASTER GULLS 



or bills decorated with a colored bead or two, or a strip of red flannel, these 

 being nestlings brought back by the egging parties early in the season and 

 kept for pets, not, as Herring Gulls are in parts of Newfoundland, to be used 

 for food later on. They are readily domesticated antl become very tame, 

 running about the village and along the shore in search of food, or, later 

 on, taking long flights with the wild Gulls. It always seems a little 

 singular to see a bird leave a flock and come flying to the village, or to 

 be approached by a big, gray Gull with open mouth and an appealing 

 squeal for food. For young Gulls are always "so hungry;" possibly, at 

 times, they get all they wish to eat, but the few whose acquaintance I 

 have made seemed blessed with "a perfectly lovely appetite." 



A few Tufted PuflRns {Lunda cirrhata) and Cormorants {Phalacrocorax 



