28 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



several eels and flounders. Having had his fill, he 

 actually amused himself by capturing several others, 

 and these, probably with a feeling of regret, he let 

 escape again. 



A great Black-backed Gull was shot by a local 

 gunner ; in its descent the wounded bird disgorged 

 no less than eleven herrings. 



On 19th June 1902, after having had their fill of 

 carrion, a parcel of gulls, standing on a patch of 

 grass-wrack (Zostera marina), in about three inches 

 of water, amused themselves by catching the crabs 

 that scrambled about in search of prey ; with crabs 

 in their bills, the gulls in turn rose a yard or more 

 and dropped the astonished crustaceans into the 

 grass again. There was no possible motive beyond 

 the fun of the exercise that could have actuated 

 them. 



I saw a Common Gull, in July 1903, seize and 

 swallow an eel quite a foot long. It was not an 

 easy nor a passive resister, and for fully five minutes 

 the contortions of the astounded fish inside the 

 bird's crop were distinctly visible, making most 

 grotesque swellings and writhings under the throat 

 and breast of the swallower. With commendable 

 determination the bird kept the eel's tail inside, 



