22 A. Mackay on the Herrhig- (hilt. [July 



im/s). Under such conditions the Ducks appear to give up all 

 care to the Gull and go to sleep in perfect confidence, nor is it 

 misplaced. If therefore a flock of these Ducks is noticed with 

 heads under their wings, asleep, with either one of these Gulls 

 near by, in such a place as would appear they might be ap- 

 proached within shooting distance, the observer will save himself 

 some trouble if he will pass on without making the attempt, for, 

 depend upon it, the Gull will see him in ample time to warn the 

 Ducks, which it will always do by flying up a short distance in 

 the air over them and uttering its sharp, harsh cry of alarm, on 

 hearing which the Ducks lose no time in heeding the warning, 

 and depart for another locality. One of my old shooting com- 

 panions utilized this trait to his own advantage by having a 

 wooden Gull decoy which he placed on the rocks in full sight, 

 while in the water near at hand would be his Black Duck decoys. 

 "It took away the Jear from the Ducks," he used to say, ''and 

 made them decoy better." The best way to obtain Herring Gulls 

 from the land is to lie concealed under the headland which forms 

 the shore line, and as they lead along the beach, as is their habit, 

 they often pass wdthin giui shot, especially if the wind is blowing 

 on shore. The young birds in the gray plumage can almost in- 

 variably be waved up within gun shot by lying concealed and 

 shaking a pair of Gull wings in such a manner that they have the 

 appearance of a Gull hovering over something. Rarely can the 

 adults be so decoyed, they being too suspicious and wary. These 

 birds are very densely feathered on the breast, on tlie fore part of 

 which they lest when on the water; floating with extreme buoy- 

 ancy, with wings and tail elevated, they have the appearance of 

 an inverted arc. 1 know of no bird frequenting New England 

 waters which appears so much at ease during the coldest and 

 stormiest winter weather, siiowing quite conclusively that they 

 must possess great power of endurance. 1 have often asked 

 myself the question how they managed always to obtain sufiicient 

 food during such times to sustain them, for of those I have 

 noticed all seemed to be in excellent physical condition. 



These Gulls pass the larger part of the time during the day on 

 the wing, visiting the flats, however, when they become uncov- 

 ered. Their modes of flight are a slow, heavy movement of the 

 wings with long strokes, sailing with set wings, and circling. 

 They have a habit at times of circling and soaring very high in 



