58 DATS OUT OF DOORS. 



and falcons that destroy poultry. Argument is useless in 

 such a case. In fact, I invariably get the worst of it. 

 " Why," the farmer asks, " do they not stay on the river 

 or the meadows ? " I can not say. " I can tell you, 

 though," he continues, with emphasis, " that I know when 

 a man's fishing and when he's hunting, and its much the 

 same thing with the birds. They don't go to a field to 

 catch fish, and they're after something, that's certain. 

 Delaware herring may not suit their fancy, but they can't 

 vary their diet with my chickens." 



Dr. Brewer states that he never knew an instance of 

 these birds attacking birds or small mammals, and the 

 strange fact that they fancy the upland fields to such an ex- 

 tent as to spend much time upon or over them may have 

 no significance. Toads and frogs may possibly be eaten by 

 them, but both are more abundant in the wet meadows. 

 That they will eat them, however, as well as other animal 

 food, is proved by such as have been held in captivity ; 

 and further, as having a slight bearing upon the subject, 

 I may mention the fact that an old fisherman has as- 

 sured me that he had seen them eat dead herring 

 and chub that had been tossed from the shad-nets and 

 were lying upon the shore near the water's edge. This 

 contradicts all statements of their feeding habits that 

 I find ; but I can hardly believe . that the man was mis- 

 taken. 



Although differing so widely in all its habits, the gull 

 is another feature of the river and meadows in March of 

 which I could say much ; but let us consider them when 

 on the meadows. Every gull-like trait is often gone, and 

 as two or three stand among the hassocks of the mucky 

 meadow they are sure to be taken for my neighbor's 

 geese. In such a case ' there can be no doubt, I think, 

 but that something attractive in the way of food draws 

 them hither. They often wander to a considerable dis- 



