THE BLACK-BILLED GULL 241 



Red-billed gulls are very plentiful on the Little Barrier Island, 

 although they do not nest there. They arrive in large flocks and 

 frequent the boulder banks, hundreds of them fluttering down 

 at the same time on the stones and boulders close to the water's 

 edge. Sometimes they stand for half an hour or so, all with 

 their faces to the wind, each on its own little boulder. Suddenly 

 there is a peculiar grating cry, like "kroo kroo !" It is taken up 

 by the whole flock, and then, with a flutter of their wings, 

 they rise about 20 feet from the boulders, like a great white 

 curtain. They flutter about in the air for a few seconds and then 

 settle down on to the boulders again, facing the wind. When 

 they go through this movement, they atford a very pretty sight. 

 They have white breasts, pearly-grey backs, black marked wings, 

 and crimson bills, legs and feet. In their flight, they display 

 much grace. They may often be seen watching for shoals of fish 

 to come in from the sea. Some occasionally wade out into the 

 ripples and allow the water to wash past their legs, like children 

 playing on the sea-shore. As soon as an old bird catches a fish, 

 the young ones set up a noisy "krooing, " and open their mouths 

 remarkably wide. The fish is dropped into the open mouth, and 

 is greedily gobbled by the gluttonous young bird. The fish has 

 hardly been swallowed, however, before the "krooing" begins 

 again, and the parents, in a state of great anxiety, start out upon 

 another fishing expedition. 



The Black-billed Gull. 



Lams hidleri. 



Like the last species, but the first three quills are white, margined 

 with black. All tipped with white. Bill black. Legs and feet red. 

 Eye white. Young, mottled with brown on the back and wings. The 

 first and second quills black, with an elongated white spot. Bill black. 

 Legs and feet dark brown. Length of the wing, 12 inches; of the tarsus, 

 1.7 inch. Egg — -Buff or grey, blotched with dark brown; length, 2.2 

 inches. New Zealand only. Frequents the rivers and lakes, and is rarely 

 seen on the sea coast, although it occasionally frequents the harbours. 



According to Mr. Travers, these birds pursue and capture 

 various species of moths, which occur in large numbers among the 

 tussock grass and sedges. 



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