128 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



some of the crustaceans that managed to escape the 

 larger hunter. But they became so persistent in 

 dodging around him, even to snapping up such as he 

 wished for himself, that at length, out of sheer annoy- 

 ance, finding his runs and pecks at them of no avail, 

 he betook himself off to another location, whither he 

 evidently hoped they would not follow him. 



There are some odd gatherings of birds on 

 Breydon now and again. A common habitat throws 

 together most diverse species at times, but it was 

 from selfish motives that in July 1901 an assemblage 

 of Rooks and Gulls came about. A Grey Gull had 

 found a bit of stale salt beef probably thrown out 

 from a ship. He was industriously pinching off 

 snips, and dragging and shaking it about, now 

 backwards, now sideways. Around him had 

 gathered thirteen Rooks, all eager to snap up the 

 fragments that might be shaken out of the quick 

 reach of the sea-bird, who was not anxious to leave 

 his joint for fear of losing it. The affair wound up 

 eventually by three other gulls coming on the scene 

 to dispute possession, when the sable hangers-on 

 decamped, wisely leaving the gulls to settle matters 

 and divide the spoil between them. 



At the time of writing (1903) a neighbour of 



