^ 1914 j Strong, Habits of the Herring Gull. 185 



mutual relations of stimuli exist between the tactile sense of the 

 mouth region and either smell or taste or between all three. Read- 

 ers who may be interested in the physiology of the beak region are 

 referred to Edinger's ^ suggestions. 



Gulls regularly show a positive reaction to strong air currents, 

 that is, they face a heavy wind whether standing or swimming 

 and usually when flying. This reaction is illustrated in Plate XIX, 

 Fig. 1, where an adult and a number of juvenals are seen facing a 

 heavy wind. Rain was falling when the picture was taken. 



When the wind is exceptionally heavy, especially if rain is falling, 

 gulls are commonly seen flying and they face the wind a large part 

 of the time. During an exceedingly violent storm which occurred 

 in the early afternoon of July 15, 1911, when I was on one of the 

 Sister Islands, all of the gulls able to fly took to the air. Their 

 flight manoeuvres were similar to those which gulls so often show 

 over a beach during a gale, at other times of the year. It is obvious- 

 ly more convenient to face a heavy wind as the bird's body is adapted 

 to meeting air currents head on with little horizontal resistance. 



Extremes of temperature apparently give gulls considerable dis- 

 tress. On a hot day, the brooding gull pants a great deal even 

 when perfectly quiet on the nest. 



Young gulls, especially if excited, pant constantly when the 

 temperature is as high as 90° F. (see Plate XIX, Fig. 2) . My captive 

 gulls become very uncomfortable, apparently, and pant a great 

 deal after taking only a few short flights of several yards each in their 

 enclosure on a hot day. At such times they seek water and, if 

 undisturbed, indulge in much bathing. 



In zero weather (Fahrenheit) my captive gulls though well fed 

 and fat appear to sufl'er from cold, especially after eating cold 

 food. If the ground is covered with snow or ice in zero weather, 

 the gulls squat upon their feet, apparently to keep them protected 

 by their plumage. They rarely stand up at such times except 

 when disturbed or to obtain food. They also show their sensitive- 



* Edinger, L. The relations of compai ative anatomy to comparative psychol- 

 ogy. Jour. Comp. Nem-. and Psych., Vol. 18, 1908, No. 5, pp. 437-457. 



Also see Vorlesungen iiber den Ban der nervosen Zentralorgane des Menschen 

 und der Tiere. Bd. 2. Aufl. 7, 1908 (or a still later edition). Leipzig, F. C. W. 

 Vogel. 



