THE GULL. 



flesh, which some other of the Gull tribe has secured for itself, 

 down he conies, and, forcing it to abandon the prize, carries it 

 off as his own ; or, if pressed by hunger, he will sometimes 

 even fall upon one of the smaller sea-birds, and devour it whole. 

 Thus, one of them was shot in the Polar expedition under Sir 

 Edward Parry, which immediately disgorged an Auk, or 

 Greenland Dove; and, on opening him, another was found 

 undigested in his stomach. But this Burgomaster, tyrant as 

 he is, has a rival quite his equal in tyranny, and, though 

 his inferior in size, surpassing him in courage and activity. 

 The Arctic Skua fears 

 no bird, nor even hesi- 

 tates to attack any ani- 

 mal, of whatever size, 

 that comes too near its 

 n est. Where they breed 

 in considerable numbers, 

 neither Hawks, nor even 

 Eagles, are allowed to 

 approach; for if, either 

 by accident or design, 

 any of these birds of prey The white Gull. 



are seen, the whole assembly attack and compel them to retire. 

 Hence, in some places where they abound, they become the 

 guardians of the young lambs, which the people consider per- 

 fectly safe during summer ; and, in return for this protection, 

 the Gull is never molested, being held in no less esteem than 

 the Stork in Holland, or the Ibis in Egypt. The unfortunate 

 birds most exposed to the attacks of these robbers are their 

 brethren, the Herring-Gulls and Kittiwakes, probably because, 

 being the most diligent pursuers of fish, they are sure to find 

 from their exertions a never-failing supply. 



Herrings form the chief provision for the immense flocks of 

 these birds, which in the season are always found near the 

 shoals. It has been remarked, that they seem to have an instinc- 

 tive knowledge of the habits of these fish, and act accordingly. 

 In the Shetland Islands, at a particular time of the tide, the 

 herrings descend from the surface ; and, during the intervals 



