272 ZOOLOGY. 



coast in December, 1855. On the numerous small islands near the Mexican boundary they 

 were very abundant, aud, as many winter even at Puget Sound, it is probable that their winter 

 migration extends no further south than here. And it is very likely that they reside about 

 these islands during summer, as they are known to breed on the islands oif San Francisco bay, 

 which can diil'er very little in climate from these, the prevailing sea breeze causing a very 

 uniform temperature along the whole western coast of the United States. 



At Shoalwater bay I had an opportunity of observing the habits of this l)ird at all seasons, 

 tliough there were unfortunately none of its breeding places to which I had access. It is the 

 only species constantly to be seen there, and is abundant, though not occurring in such great 

 flocks as some other species do at certain seasons. In flight, appearance, and cries they very 

 closely resemble the silvery gull. Their flight is slow, laborious, and performed b_y flapping 

 except in storms and violent blows, when they are fond of soaring to a great height, circling 

 round each other like eagles, without a movement of their wings, and often wandering far 

 inland — the sure forerunner of a severe storm. 



Tliey feed commonly during low tide, both at night and day. No sooner docs it begin to ebb 

 than hundreds of gulls, which have been dozing for hours on the beach, or, if the day is calm, 

 floating quietl}' on tlie water at a little distance, join the long train of screaming godwits, sand- 

 pipers, and fish-crows, and fly to the sand-banks, river shores, and muscle-beds, there to feast 

 until the returning tide drives them away. If one discovers a dead fish or other dainty food, 

 his loud screams, audible for miles, soon summon a crowd of associates, like the viiltures, to 

 the carcass. Then all is confusion; one flying off" Avith the fish, others pursuing, screaming, 

 and striking each other, imtil they have each had a pull at it, and none is left. The same 

 thing occurs if one finds a clam, (of which many species are washed out and left on the 

 surface by the tide.) As they cannot break the shells with their bill, the successful bird will 

 fly towards some well known hard sank-bank, and rising by circling flight fifty feet or more, 

 drops the shell. If not broken by the first fall he repeats it, ascending higher each time, or 

 flaying off to a harder place. As it falls they dive through the air after it, in short oblique 

 turns, quite different from their bold headlong plunge after fisli in the water. Crabs, sea- 

 worms, dead rats, and probablj' any animal food, is eaten by the voracious gull, which may be 

 compared among sea-birds to the raven on land, which feeds also in the same places. 



If the tide has been a verj' low one, (as happens every alternate fortnight along the western 

 coast,) the gulls gorge themselves with food before the return of flood tide, and then sit list- 

 lessly until it floats them oft", jirobably often sound asleep. But they are very difficult to 

 approach within shot even then, though they will frequent!}^ fl^' very near a person who is not 

 pursuing them, screaming, and observing him with much curiosity. If not satisfied, thej' watch 

 along the edge of the water for the shoals of small sculpins, sticklebacks, &c., that come over 

 the shoals with the tide, and, wading in, feed on them as they approach; or, if shoals of herring 

 are entering the bnv, they sometimes fly over and dive after them. Tliis, however, is too 

 laborious a mode for this lazy bird when it can get enough by easier means. About San Fran- 

 cisco they have taken advantage of man's presence, and great numbers of these and ring-billed 

 gulls feed on the refuse of the markets and sewers, fearlessly resting on the wharves, where 

 they are not molested. 



Though so unscrupulous in feeding, this gull is exceedingly neat, and spends hours in cleaning 

 and pluming its beautiful feathers, generally sitting in tho water and washing itself at the same 

 time. No sea bird is more beautiful or graceful in its motions than this, as seen in large flocks 



