[17] Sea birds as bait i^or catching codfish. 327 



wakes of the jieger tliat iuvariablj^, so far as my observation extends, 

 a flock of gulls that are sitting on the water will start up on a wing the 

 instant that they are approached by either of the larger species. 



It may be said, however, that the jfeger rarely attacks the larger 

 species of gulls, though I have seen the common gull — L. zonorynchus — 

 fiercely chased by a jicger when the gull was flying away with food in 

 its beak. However predaceous the marlingspiko may be, so far as the 

 gull is concerned, it never presumes to intimidate the hagdon ; and there 

 is little doubt but that the latter would become the aggressor if it found 

 the former in possession of any desirable tid-bit. 



Though the flight of the jteger is rather deliberate, almost heavy, under 

 ordinary circumstances, it is, nevertheless, exceedingly swift when oc- 

 casion calls for a display of its powers. As has been intimated it is very 

 pugnacious, and its rapacity knows no bounds, but it is far less daring 

 than the hagdon, neither is it so noisy as the latter. 



JiBgers have been used to a greater or less exteutfor bait by the " shack 

 fishermen," generally being caught in the same manner as the hagdons 

 are, with which they are usually taken, but, of course, in more limited 

 numbers, as a rule. Sometimes they will bite quite freely at a hook 

 covered with liver, and on several occasions I have seen a considerable 

 number, perhaps twenty or more, caught from a vessel's side or from a 

 boat. As a rule, however, they are too wary to be taken in any con- 

 siderable numbers in this way, since they jjrefer to rob other and more 

 daring birds, especially the gulls. During the summer months, when 

 hagdons are almost the only birds (of course, always excepting Carey 

 chickens) on the bank they have less chance to commit their depreda- 

 tions ; therefore they are generally compelled to take the same risk 

 that 2>uffinus does or else go hungry. It is at this season that they 

 are most frequently caught. In biting at a hook, unless the immediate 

 presence of other birds influences its actions, the jteger generally ex- 

 hibits considerable acuteness and dexterity in stripping the liver from 

 the hook, and in this respect it is second onl}- to the hagdon. It will 

 take the liver in its beak and, rising in the air, will try to fly away to a 

 distance with it before attempting to swallow it. If it is pulled away 

 by a dexterous jerk on the line it will return and try it over again, but 

 it is now doubly cautious, and the chances are it will get what it seeks 

 and escape capture. But when birds are plenty and all are ravenous 

 for food the marlingspike, in its struggles to be tirst, forgets its caution, 

 and consequently becomes a victim to its greed. When hooked it al- 

 most always rises and tries to escape by flying ; it rarely, if ever, splashes 

 along like the hagdon with its feet stuck out, striking against the water in 

 a desperate effort to hold back. It is killed, when caught on a hook, in 

 the same way as the hagdon, but, unlike the latter, it generally stays 

 killed, though it is by no means lacking in tenacity of life. When par- 

 ticularly difficult to catch on a hook it is often shot for bait. As a gen- 

 eral thing one or two discharges of a musket causes these birds to be 



