FRAGMENTS FROM THE SEASHORE. 257 



removed thirty or forty yards, and nest de- 

 pressions practically filled up by lining pebbles 

 having rolled down. Doubtless the struggles of 

 the chicks were answerable for the latter cir- 

 cumstance. 



Not far away a small colony of common gulls 

 were breeding on a rough rocky promontory, and 

 I determined to try my skill upon the species. 



Somebody ill-acquainted with the qualities of 

 sea-gull mind once invented a slang phrase in- 

 tended to be indicative of its extreme credulity. 

 As a matter of fact most of the members of the 

 gull family are far too intelligent to be imposed 

 upon, and they 

 make you painfully 

 aware of that fact 

 when you try to 

 photograph them 

 at close quarters. 



