Auk 



424 DvTCH^.R AST) 'Qxi'Ly, Habits 0/ ike Herrins^ Gull. T q"^ 



No. 3. Liiriis argeiiiains, Duck Island, June 25, 1901. Contents; 17 

 Calliphora vomitoria, \o%; i weevil, 1%; i brown carabid beetle, 2% ; 2 

 I.achnosterna (May beetles), 7%; remains of fish, 30%; vegetable rubbish 

 20%. Total amount, 20% vegetable matter ; 80% animal matter. 



No. 4. Lams ai-ge?ifalus, No-Man's-Land, July 4, 1901. Contents: 2 

 funnels and a propodium of squids about 4 inches long. Total amount, 

 100% animal matter. 



No. 5. Lams argentatus, No-Man's-Land, July 4, 1901. Contents: 

 Eye and epidermis of a very small squid, 25% ; prosternal process of 

 elaterid beetle, 20% ; tibia of a May beetle, 30% ; elytron of a carabid 

 beetle, 25%. Total amount, 100% animal matter. 



In 1902 Mr. Bailey observed the parents disgorge food on the 

 ground which the young picked up and swallowed whole. The 

 larger young will often tackle a squid, apparently several times too 

 large for them, and after several unsuccessful attempts will worry 

 it down, when the bird looks as though he were sorry and would 

 like to change his mind. In some instances the parents seemed 

 to exhibit very little judgment as to the ability of their young, and 

 would leave a big, tough squid in the nest for a day old young 

 one to devour. Several such were watched picking and pulling 

 for some time without securing any nourishment. On visiting the 

 nest a half hour later it seemed that the parent had also been con- 

 vinced that her babies w^ere not equal to the task and had removed 

 the squid. 



The mortality among the young varies. In 1900 the island of 

 No -Man's Land was visited at the height of the breeding season 

 when hundreds of young gulls of all sizes could be seen. Only a 

 very few dead ones were found and they were generally those not 

 more than three days old. In 1901 so few young were hatched 

 on Duck Island, at the date the observations were ended, that no 

 data could be obtained ; however, No-Man's-Land was visited July 

 4, 1901, and it was found that from 60 to 70% of the eggs were 

 hatched and that hundreds of young birds were hiding everywhere. 

 A search for dead birds was made but very few were found. In 

 1902 Capt. Stanley reported that during the season about 200 

 young birds were killed by the adults, and nearly as many more 

 were killed by sheep stepping on them, and others by being caught 

 under rocks and brush where they go to hide. 



In the report of stomach contents, that of No. 5 was taken from 



