182 Strong, Habits of the Herring Gull. [aptU 



at once jumped into the swimming tank and drank water, washing 

 its beak vigorously. The other gulls did not take any food on this 

 occasion while I was present. Later, similar reactions were ob- 

 tained with weaker solutions of table salt and also with weak acids. 

 Food was often rejected, even when the taste was just perceptible 

 to me under the conditions of the experiments. 



So far, I have almost no significant results with bitter and sweet 

 solutions, although a great many tests have been attempted. This 

 has been surprising to me as results were obtained readily with 

 chicks and ducklings for the same solutions, with food, however, 

 which would hold more of the solution. 



The point of greatest interest to naturalists, perhaps, is the 

 reaction to salt solutions, as it has long been a question to what 

 extent sea birds drink sea water or tolerate it in their food. My 

 gulls were fresh-water birds, of course, as they came from Green 

 Bay, but field observations on salt-water gulls are in agreement with 

 my experimental results, so far as they go. 



Thus Anthony ^ states " That gulls drink sea water and can thrive 

 on it is a fact not to be questioned, but I am of the opinion that 

 when fresh water can be obtained without too much trouble they 

 will drink it in preference. Several years ago I camped for a few 

 days on the beach near a small fresh-water pond ; during my stay 

 sea gulls were constantly flying in from sea to drink, bathe, and 

 preen their feathers. Many single birds were noted flying from 

 as far as the eye could reach direct to the pond ; after a few moments 

 of rest and a drink, they returned to the sea in a manner that very 

 plainly indicated that they had business there and had happened 

 in merely to get a little fresh water." Several species of gulls were 

 discussed in this article, including the Herring Gull, but, unfortu- 

 nately, no single species is designated for the observations just 

 quoted. Furthermore, Anthony does not give any evidence for his 

 statement that gulls drink sea water. My own observations indi- 

 cate that Herring Gulls, in cold weather, at least, do not need to 

 drink often. They do not wander far from land relatively, and they 

 are probably usually within a reasonable distance from fresh water. 

 Though fish and other meat that has begun to spoil are eaten to 



» Anthony, A. W. Random Notes on Pacific Gulls. Auk, 1906, Vol. XXIII, 

 No. 2, pp. 129-137. 



