728 THE WESTERN GULL. 
Gulls are indiscriminate feeders, and all is grist which comes to their 
mill. This species is charged with a discreditable weakness for birds’ 
eggs; and according to Finley and others, an adult Western makes noth- 
ing of swallowing a young Murre or a squab Cormorant in the absence 
of vigilant parents. This stigma, by the way, does not attach to Glaucous- 
winged Gulls, for I have spent weeks with them without witnessing any 
misbehavior. 
Fish constitute the staple diet of the gulls, and the birds quarter the 
sea at a considerable height until some indica- 
tion of a travelling school is noted. Tell-tale 
haste on the part of any one bird is remarked 
by distant comrades, and all hurry to the scene 
of slaughter. Excited screams publish the 
news still more widely, if the prospect is a good 
one, and a thousand birds may join the feast 
before the bewildered fish realize 
that they are furnishing both 
mirth and meat, and go below. 
The Indians take proper ad- 
vantage of this fish-finding pro- 
pensity on the part of the gulls, 
and when the birds follow the 
smelt ashore at La Push, a shout 
runs thru the village, and the 
seines are hurried out. 
When the birds are surfeited, 
according to Mr. Bowles, a game 
of tag is indulged in. One catches 
a herring, and instead of eating it, 
flies with the fish hanging from 
its bill, past three or four com- 
ANAK’S HEADSTONI 
A WESTERN GULL ON THE SUMMIT 
rades. These accept the challenge, 
and rush madly after, while the pursued goes thru all sorts of evolu- 
tions in seeking to elude them. If overtaken, the order of chase is re- 
versed, and the game goes merrily on until all are tired. The fish, or tag 
trophy, is not eaten, but is dropped upon the play-ground in a condition 
decidedly the worse for wear 
