ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULI.KTIX 



KMl ANT) VOUNG BIRD HATCHKO IN THK PARK 



lie l>ini iniiilmti-il tlu 



liiniself into the front rank of tlie expectant 

 birds and found liimself, as a simple swimmer, 

 unable to compete with his more efficient rivals. 

 Gulls are not lackinj; in ingjenuity, and he soon 

 devised a plan which would secure to himself 

 all that even a gull's appetite could desire. 

 Holding liimself in a watchful attitude, he would 

 wait for a bit of bread to be thrown, and as 

 soon as it was seized by one of the eager 

 ducks, would proceed with an act of piracy. 

 Rising lightly from the water, he would dash 

 with mock fierceness at the unfortunate bird, 

 whicii. surprised by finding a rival aliovc it. and 

 perhajis frightened by the spread of beating 

 wings, would dro]) tiie morsel and wildly Hee. 

 A single gulp sufficed to ])lace the booty beyond 

 the reach of more courageous contestants, .iiul 

 the thief was again ready for business. 



Gulls, as a grou]), are well known to be ))re- 

 daceous, according to their needs and the rel.i- 

 tive abundance or scarcity of weaklings upon 

 which to ))rey. The skua habitually secures tlu- 

 major portion of its food by forcing less savage 



irowin;,' r.ipiilly. 



relatives to disgorge their I'.-iptures. and it is 

 not remarkable that our gull should .nail him- 

 self of a similar strategem. 



The antics of the bird caused a great deal of 

 amusement for a time, and we were becoming 

 more and more pleased with our visitor, when 

 suddenly, no doubt elated by his success, the 

 gull commenced operating in a larger field. Se- 

 lecting a lone duck, well in the center of the 

 ])ond. he would stoop at it fiercely, causing the 

 victim to dart beneath the water. Hovering 

 hawk-like overhead, the persecutor w.iited for it 

 to reappear and repe.ited the performance. At 

 first we thought this entert.iiiiing. but soon it 

 was observed that the gull, all too evidently, 

 w.is l/iboring with sinister intent. .Much as we 

 li.id enjovcd his visit, it was certain that he had 

 out-stayed his welcome. The bird's failing for 

 cut fish was utilized to coax him within the trap 

 which c(mii)lcted his final downfall, and now. in 

 coin|).uiv with others of his kind in the Goose 

 .Vviarv. hi- is iiK-dit.iting on his misdeeds. 



L. S. C. 



