Vol. VIII. 



19 



J Stray Feathers. OQ 



Can Gulls Dive? — Lately this subject has been discussed 

 through " Nature Notes and Queries" — a column weekly in a 

 daily paper, The Argus — and to my way of thinking it is 

 one that is apt to be rather confusing, especially to those not 

 knowing the difference between birds scientifically known as 

 divers and those that simply perform a dive brought about 

 by momentum. 



One contributor to these notes stated that he witnessed many 

 Pacific Gulls {Gabiamis pacificns) rise into the air, and the 

 momentum gained in their downward flight enabled these birds 

 to secure their prey about 4 feet below the surface, and, as far as 

 he was concerned, settled the question regarding this particular 

 species as a diver. Acknowledging that performances like these 

 come within the meaning of the word dive, this does not certify 

 that they belong to the family of divers. Because a bird rises 

 into the air and the momentum acquired in its downward 

 course enables it to dive below the surface and secure its prey 

 at a depth no greater than the momentum thus gained enables 

 it to reach, and upon that power being spent is forced back to 

 the surface, actions like these do not in my opinion classify them 

 among the divers. For example, take a glance at any of the 

 birds belonging to such genera as PhalacvGcorax, Plotiis, Podi- 

 cipcs, Anas, Nettioti, Catarrhactcs, and others— why, a single 

 glance is enough to satisfy the most pessimistic observer that 

 these birds are specially adapted and moulded by nature for 

 diving, also swimming while submerged. Take the wings of a 

 diver : the shoulders are set well forward, while the primaries 

 are short ; and the legs are set well back. Have the Gulls 

 Terns, or Gannets these qualities ? No. 



Any naturalist who has exercised any degree of observation 

 knows that the swimming of birds is nothing more than a 

 walking in the water, where one foot succeeds the other, as on 

 the land, while under water they impel and row themselves 

 forward by a motion of their wings as well as by the impulse of 

 their feet. These actions I have frequently watched while 

 attempting to secure Black Duck {Anas sitperciliosa) that I have 

 wounded upon a clear pool of water. Although well acquainted 

 with the Gulls, Terns, and Gannets, and upon several occasions 

 having slightly winged one of these birds, I have never yet seen 

 a single bird attempt to go under while trying to evade capture. 

 The question arises — Are they able .'' The Silver Gull (Lams 

 nov(E-JwllandiiE) and Terns, in performing this dive of theirs, upon 

 reaching the water always, as far as my observations go, open 

 their wings — an action, I take it, that lessens the shock and at 

 the same time prevents them from going under. With the 

 Gannets it is just the opposite — they keep their wings closed, 

 thus enabling them to dive to a considerable depth. Regarding 

 Terns, although these birds are web-footed it is rarely they are 



