246 OUR RARER BIRDS 



colour, spotted and often streaked with dark-brown and gray. 

 We might have gathered many baskets full of eggs from this 

 interesting island, but we were content with a few. Some of 

 the Gulls whose nests we lingered near came very close, 

 almost within arm's length, and many birds followed us far 

 out from shore when we left them to the undisturbed posses- 

 sion of their wild home. 



When the young are safely reared the Common Gulls 

 quit their breeding-places and wander far and wide in quest 

 of food. They may now be observed hundreds of miles away 

 from their summer quarters, following the shoals of fish, and 

 flying up the wide mouths and estuaries of southern rivers. 

 They now live almost exclusively on fish, rarely visit land to 

 feed, and are very fond of entering bays and harbours. 



