4142 The Zoologist — September, 1874. 



Many genera that must in all fairness be termed gregarious utter 

 their calls and cries with frequent repetitions, and that, too, in broad 

 daylight. Can we divine their meaning ? Let us observe which 

 are the noisy species. Floclis of terns may be heard screaming at 

 some distance, as in open order and at no great height they stream 

 across the country, foraging by sight. Is their squealing cry uttered 

 in rivalry, for companionship, for encouragement, or satisfaction at 

 the prospect of a well-filled gullet ? Walch a flock of the same 

 species hovering over a river, and should anything unusual, such 

 as a dead bird, be borne down with the current, a clamour at once 

 arises. How swiftly is the news spread from bird to bird ! In a 

 brief space hundreds are wheeling and screaming over the object of 

 attraction. In this case the call conveys intelligence; it is analogous 

 to the bushman's " coo-ey," attracting instant attention, and sum- 

 moning the presence of all within reach of its sound. In the 

 instances given the call-notes used appear very similar. By way of 

 contrast, stroll across one of their breeding-grounds when the down- 

 clad young lie in couples without the slightest shelter. Fiercely is 

 the intruder assailed; the harsh scream becomes intensified, and 

 plainly expresses anger, defiance and would-be intimidation, for 

 the brave little tern protects its nestlings, even against man, with 

 a courage unknown to the more powerful gull. Our large gull 

 {Lams doviinicamis) will drive away the egg-stealing harrier, which 

 soars aloft in wide circles on silent wing as the gull chases it from 

 the neighbourhood of the sandy shore or rocky cliff where the 

 roughly -built nest protects the brown-blotched eggs ; it marks each 

 dashing stroke with a short bark of anger, and returns from the 

 pursuit with hoarse, gratulatory noise ; but when man assails its 

 treasures the miserable bird wheels aloft, and, circling round in 

 company with its neighbours, breaks forth into loud despairing 

 cries that sound like thick-voiced mocking laughter. There is no 

 levie en masse as with the plucky terns ; there is no attempt made 

 to defy or inspire fear; but, securing itself from danger by ascending 

 in wide circles, the loud-voiced sea-fowl looks down on the plun- 

 derer in timid helplessness, uttering incessantly its wailing laraeu- 

 tations. Look at that flock of gulls which surround the shipping 

 lying at anchor near the breakwater ! What a busy picture of 

 noisy activity ! It is life at high pressure, and stands out in bold 

 relief to the rest of the scene, where all around lies still and silent, 

 steeped in the full glare of noon. Some are ranging restlessly in 



