THE WESTERN GULL. 107 



which nobody else cares for. It is called Gull 

 Rock. 



The eggs are three, placed on the bare rock or 

 ground. Parent gulls have a shrill, harsh cry at 

 nesting-time. This cry is answered by a whine 

 from the young ones. Young gulls do not get 

 their full plumage until they are two or three 

 years of age, but are dusky brown all over. On 

 this account, when you are watching a number of 

 gulls on the beach, you may think some of them 

 are another sort of bird. 



Notice how lightly the gulls swim on the water! 

 Almost the whole bird is in sight, while many 

 other water-fowl swim with only the neck above 

 the surface. This is because their feathers are 

 very thick and the body very small. Really, gulls 

 are more than half plumage. This makes them 

 so light of weight, they sit, just touching the 

 water, riding in their own boat. 



It is a pretty sight to see the gulls floating 

 around the pier close to the bobbing buoys. 

 They are watching for the cracker you are eating, 

 ready to snatch it when you drop it; and no 

 doubt they are watching the fish beneath them, 

 having a good time of their own, just out of reach 

 of the gulls, who are no divers. 



Should an honest old pelican happen along on 



