16 



JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The Gulls and Terns of Sagadahoc 

 County. 



CAPT. HERBERT h. SPINNEY. 



Bead before the Maine Ornithological Society 

 at Waterville, December 3 1st; 1898. 



The most favorable time for observ- 

 ing individual characteristics of many of 

 the birds which inhabit our sea coast, is 

 during the severe storms which visit it 

 in late fall, winter and early spring. It 

 is then, when man with all the reason 

 and ingenuity at his command is helpless 

 to conquer the storm, that these smaller 

 representatives of the animal kingdom 

 are to be seen forcing their way against 

 the wind, apparently with little exertion, 

 or riding on the crest of the fiercest 

 waves with perfect security. 



In the morning as soon as it is light 

 enough to see, we will repair to some 

 promontory which presents its side to 

 the storm. If it divides two large bays 

 we shall get the best results, as the birds 

 flying across the leeward bay with the 

 wind quartering ahead gradually make 

 leeway and to double the headland must 

 fly for a longer or shorter distance par- 

 allel with the shore, thus bringing them 

 within range of the collector and allow- 

 ing him to secure many species, which 

 without these circumstances, it would be 

 almost impossible to do. The wind 

 blowing a gale, interspersed with rain 

 squalls, and the dull crash of the sea as 

 it breaks in all its fury on the rock- 

 bound shore, fills us with awe at the 

 power of these elements. As we peer 

 through the mist from the breakers, our 

 attention is attracted to a bird, which, 

 with slow strokes of the wings, slowly 

 approaches, following the shore, now 



rising in air and again with motionless 

 wings gliding with rapidity into the hol- 

 low of the" sea, rising just in time to 

 avoid the crest of the wave which breaks, 

 leaving a track of white foam behind. 



We at once recognize this bird to be 

 the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus 

 smithsonlanus). How easily it breasts 

 the gale, now with motionless wings, 

 then suddenly swooping down to the 

 crest of a wave to secure some marine 

 object which is brought to the surface. 

 So easily is this done that we think these 

 environments must be necessary for its 

 existence. 



Sometimes it will hover over some 

 submerged ledge, where amid the seeth- 

 ing foam, its quick eye detects some fish 

 or crustacean which has become disabled 

 by the sea. At this time perhaps no 

 other gull may be seen, but should the 

 one mentioned meet with success, before 

 we are aware of it the air is full of them, 

 their shrill notes penetrating the din of 

 the storm, and woe to the one that is 

 lucky enough to secure some eatable 

 object, for if it cannot swallow its food 

 at once it is chased by the others until 

 it eludes its pursuers or is compelled to 

 drop it, when some other gull quickly 

 secures it. while the original owner com- 

 mences searching for more. Should 

 they not find any more food at this par- 

 ticular place, they quickly disperse, only 

 to repeat the same manceuvres when 

 some other fortunate bird attracts their 

 attention, and in this manner they will 

 follow the shore hour after hour, seem- 

 ingly tireless. 



Again, our attention is attracted to 

 the Black-backed Gull. This species is 

 much larger than the preceding, and 

 while the Herring Gull may be seen every 

 day in large numbers, the Black-back 



