82 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



Gull had a hole large enough for the insertion of a 

 finger in its crop, made by a stab of the Heron's bill. 



VERY ODD MEALS 



Tired with the long, dreary flight across seas from 

 his Norwegian home, a Jackdaw sought shelter and 

 rest on board a lightship in the October of 1882. 

 He was secured by one of the crew, and having had 

 his wing clipped, was allowed the freedom of the 

 deck. He soon became a most amusing member of 

 the crew, the cook's galley being his favourite resort. 

 One day, while the men were at prayers, " Jack " 

 discovered a big plum -duff standing outside the 

 cook-house door to cool, and immediately set to work 

 picking out and devouring every raisin that could be 

 seen sticking around it. The men apparently enjoyed 

 the joke as much as the bird did the raisins. 



Odd only, perhaps, from its disproportionate size, 

 a full-grown Grey Plover was found entire in the 

 crop of a Glaucous Gull shot in this locality. It was 

 perhaps a wounded bird picked up on the seashore, 

 or more probably a bird found floating dead on the 

 sea. Such dead migrants often make a welcome 

 meal to passing gulls. 



