130 Anthony, Pacific Coast Gulls. [April 



To a casual observer who has seen the gulls of Puget Sound ports 

 contesting with Siwash Indians for garbage, or whose observations 

 have been limited to the gulls that follow the coasting steamers 

 from port to port to feed on the refuse thrown from the galley, the 

 mention of a sea gull suggests nothing so much as a scavenger, on 

 a par with Turkey Vultures and Crows. The other side of the 

 ledger presents a different appearance, for, removed from the de- 

 grading influence of garbage dumps, which few if any of our Pacific 

 species seem able to resist, our sea gulls are as dainty and charming 

 in habit and manner as one could wish. Larus is, however, an 

 inveterate scavenger, and when found in the region of coast ports 

 can be looked for with certainty about the garbage dumps. I have 

 seen on Puget Sound hundreds of gulls congregated on the dumping 

 grounds, competing with a dozen or more Indians for desirable 

 spoil; the Indians, silent and deliberate, the gulls, clamorous 

 and precipitate, dashing down for choice edibles under the very 

 hands of their human competitors. These conventions were in 

 the winter months and consisted chiefly of Pacific Kittiwake, 

 Glaucous-winged, American Herring, Short-billed, and Bona- 

 parte's, with now and then a Western Gull. They were all 

 equally fearless, and a dozen might have been reached with a 

 stick seven or eight feet long. I doubt, however, that any could 

 have been killed with a stick, for, confiding as they seem, a hostile 

 movement is instantly noted and every gull in the flock as quickly 

 warned. These same birds would be difficult to stalk half a mile 

 from the wharves and shipping; they are quick to learn the limits 

 of protection and by no means averse to accepting the advantages 

 afforded by strict harbor regulations. It is well known that should 

 a gull be shot, whether killed or merely disabled, every gull within 

 sight and hearing will hasten to the spot, and with cries of alarm 

 hover for several minutes over a fallen comrade, nor will they seek 

 safer quarters before a number have been shot. It is a common 

 practice of a certain class of Sunday sportsmen ( ?) to take advan- 

 tage of this sympathetic trait, and slaughter wantonly large num- 

 bers for the mere sport. 



During the winter months companies of from a dozen to forty 

 gulls are in constant attendance on the coasting steamers from 

 Mexico to Puget Sound. These flocks are composed of Western, 



