GULLS 49 



spotted and blotched with lilac, brown, umber and black. Often 

 the spots are most abundant at the larger end. Three eggs 

 from a nest among the rocks on Black Ledge, found June 23, 

 1896, measure 2.97x1.98, 3.01x2.01, 2.93x1.95. Four 

 eggs from Spirit Ledge, June 26, 1895, measure 2.96 x 1.95, 

 2.93 X 1.96, 2.94 x 1.97, 2.95 x 1.90. These eggs had every 

 appearance of having been laid by the same bird, and doubtless 

 were, but in many instances nests found containing four or even 

 only three or two eggs had no two of the same color or shape, 

 and in such cases one might possibly infer that the eggs were 

 laid in the same nest by different parents. Normally however 

 three eggs of the same general shape, size and markings may 

 expected in a nest. When a colony of these birds is approached 

 they rise in the air and fly overhead (out of gunshot generally) 

 uttering a "ha-ha-ha" or a "qu-e-e-a-a-h que-e-e-a-h", the inten- 

 sity of their demonstration usually depending on the contents 

 of the nests (whether fresh eggs, incubated eggs or young are 

 present) the amount of previous disturbance they have been 

 subjected to, etc. 



Gulls are great scavengers, eating almost anything of animal 

 nature in the way of carrion, but their natural diet is small fish, 

 sea urchins, star-fish and other marine life. I have seen por- 

 tions of squid in a nest containing young Gulls. It is doubtless 

 true that during the breeding season they range considerable 

 distances for food, but it seems very improbable, as asserted by 

 a recent author, that breeding birds from our Maine colonies 

 range as far south as the coast of Massachusetts. Quite con- 

 clusive evidence is at hand to show that the individuals which 

 range up some of our Maine rivers and inlets in the breeding 

 season, remaining to feed all day and towards night flying sea- 

 ward to return the next morning, are often sterile birds, no 

 breeding birds having been actually captured from such flocks. 

 Breeding birds generally have other matters to attend to besides 

 spending their days inshore sitting idly on the rocks preening 

 their feathers. 



