BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 385 
time to swallow ; then the victor, seizing it quickly, flies 
away to devour it. Fish brought to the nest of other 
birds as food for mate or young is stolen by the Western 
Gulls as soon as laid down, and so expert on the wing 
are they that but once have I seen punishment overtake 
them. In this case the bird tried to snatch a fish that 
had been thrown to a baby seal. Quicker than thought, 
the seal mother caught the bird by the fect and drew 
it under the water. In a few moments she rose with 
the lifeless body, shook it viciously, and tossed it con- 
49. WESTERN GULL. 
The young gull is taught to fish. 
temptuously away. This occurred at Avalon, Santa 
Catalina, and was witnessed by many spectators at 6 
A.M. one May morning. But seals are not usually the 
victims of these tyrants. Cormorant and murre eggs 
and young, and even young rabbits, are its favorite bill 
of fare. Eggs they will steal in spite of all precautions ; 
a lighthouse keeper tells about covering a pile of eggs 
closely with a sail-cloth, only to have the gulls work 
their way under it and carry off every one. 
But in spite of all his faults, the Western Gull is 
devoted to his mate and nestlings, feeding and guarding 
them with constant care. Early in May he begins to 
repair his old nest, stealing material from the cormo- 
