° 1911 J Howell, Birds of Cobb's Island, Va. 451 



The most interesting problem was the reason for the rate of 

 increase and decrease in the numbers respectively of the Laughing 

 Gulls and Black Skimmers. The latter were nesting in four rather 

 small colonies several miles from the Life-saving Station, and as 

 they nest later than, and their eggs are smaller than those of the 

 Gulls, the fishermen confine their attention almost exclusively 

 to the nests of the latter. More than this, the people of this 

 section have a more kindly feeling towards the Skimmers than 

 the Gulls, and the plumage of the former has always been of even 

 less value commercially than that of the latter. The nests of the 

 Laughing Gulls are robbed by the fishermen twice, so I am told, 

 and at the third setting of eggs, are left in peace, but one would 

 think that even with this slight encouragement, they would leave 

 the island for more favorable localities. However, they are thriv- 

 ing and growing fat and increasing from year to year, while the 

 sea dogs, as the Skimmers are called locally, seem destined to take 

 the trail back to the Southland. Nor can their growing scarcity 

 be due to high tides flooding their nests, for these as a rule are 

 higher above the water than are those of the Gulls. The only 

 explanation that seems to be left is one which Mr. E. J. Court of 

 Washington, assures me is now accepted by the majority of orni- 

 thologists who are conversant with the conditions of that section. 

 It is that the schools of a certain small fish on which the Skimmers 

 feed almost exclusively, have within the past few years forsaken 

 the locality, and that now there are only enough left for the few 

 birds remaining. Another reason that some have advanced is 

 that during a series of heavy winter storms several years ago, 

 the southern end of the island was washed away. However, as 

 fully nine tenths of the original island is left, this supposition seems 

 to be hardly worth mentioning. 



Clapper Rails (Rattus crepitans) are found upon the island in 

 the greatest abundance, and evidently have always been just as 

 numerous. At this time, most of their eggs were pipped, and a 

 few sets had already hatched. A habit which the Rails had was 

 that of very often placing their nests within about three feet of 

 those of the Gulls. I am sure that this was from no feeling of 

 friendship, for the Gulls love to tease the Rails, and I have seen 

 them swoop at the latter on their nests, while the victims danced 



