202 The Sea-Gull 



winter, and early spring, before it leaves for 

 its breeding-places, is as fond of foraging in the 

 fields and following the plough as is the rook 

 with which, indeed, it may often be seen feeding 

 in the greatest amity. 



No doubt the late immigration of this bird into 

 London was to a very considerable extent caused 

 by the fact that its feeding-grounds on land were 

 closed to it by the snow and frost, and that it was 

 therefore forced to depend entirely on the water 

 for its supplies. 



The gull may be said to be omnivorous; nothing, 

 indeed, apparently comes amiss. It will devour 

 small fish, and for this reason is very fond of 

 following shrimpers and other small trawling 

 vessels for the feast to be obtained when the 

 fishermen are shaking out their nets mollusks 

 and crustaceans which it finds left by the tide, 

 and, one of its greatest feasts perhaps, the scraps 

 and offal thrown overboard from the cook's galley 

 of a passing ship. 



So fond, indeed, are the gulls of the meal 

 provided them by the refuse thrown overboard 

 from ships, that they \\ill in a harbour where a 

 guardship is moored, apparently observing times 

 and seasons, attend daily with the greatest regu- 

 larity for the food they know will be supplied to 

 them. In addition they will, as we have said, 

 wander far inland in search of worms and grubs, 

 and when so engaged will not even disdain on 

 occasion to help themselves to the farmer's grain, 



