BIRD NOTES 63 



toothsome bit catches the sharp wandering eye, 

 and now clustering in a noisy, quarrelsome group 

 as some larger edible attracts the notice of several 

 simultaneously. 



The smaller particles are snatched up as neatly 

 as Swallows catch at passing insects, the end of the 

 mandibles and the ends of the toes scarce touching 

 the water ere the bird has "bevelled itself 1 upwards 

 again as it were by the force of the impetus that 

 brought it down. A heavy or brittle substance, 

 such as a large bit of bread, makes diversion by 

 its breaking and falling, to be snatched at again 

 probably by a trio or half a dozen rivals. Sometimes 

 a bird settles upon the water and feeds upon its 

 " find " as the tide floats them along together. 



In amongst the gulls, on similar intent, may be 

 seen Rooks, whose methods are slightly different, 

 for they are more fearful of an immersion. Petty 

 quarrels are often struck up a-wing between the 

 corvine gleaners and the gulls. 



On 17th November 1901, just off the "half-mile 

 point " on Breydon, some five hundred Black-headed 

 Gulls were fishing along the " tide-line," a perceptible 

 dividing line between the up-running stream and 

 an eddy caused by a projecting " wall." They were 



