liO Birds that are Land and Water Feeders. 



Fishery, and of these 64 per cent, contained trout, the largest 

 number in a single bird being 9 trout 2^ to 4 inches in length, 

 and the largest fish 6 inches in length. 



Regarding the land food of gulls, the report contains 

 the following passage : — " We have made inquiries from 

 numerous farmers in the district, and they are of opinion that 

 the destruction of earth-worms, ' per se,' without an accom- 

 panying destruction of wire-worms and injurious beetles, is 

 <letrimental to agriculture. The examination of gulls follow- 

 ing the plough during the winter shows that these birds take 

 practically nothing but earth-worms. Two black-headed 

 gulls shot in December contained over 50 earth-worms apiece, 

 and two common gulls contained over 100 worms apiece, the 

 only other food being a Dor beetle in one of the specimens. 

 Wire-worms, beetles, craneflies (daddy-long-legs), and other 

 insects were present in varying proportions, but the points of 

 interest were the great scarcity of wire-worms. These were 

 found in the black-headed only. Craneflies, or daddy-long- 

 legs, on the other hand, were present in immense quantities, 

 as many as 150 recognisable specimens in a single bird. The 

 tlack-headed gull is supposed to be guilty of feeding on grain, 

 and in Messrs Thorpe & Hope's report it is shown that 44 per 

 cent, contained oats during the sowing season. Common 

 gulls and herring gulls contained a considerable amount of 

 grain. The destruction of cereals by the herring gull cer- 

 tainly seems a matter for investigation when 19.5 per cent., 

 shot mostly at sea, contained cereals. . . . Mr Stavely, 

 of Rothesay, describes the herring gull as sitting on the 

 sheaves and feeding on oats. A specimen shot contained 

 evidence to prove this. The herring gull would therefore 

 appear to take grain at all seasons. ... It takes very 

 few earth-worms and practically no insect life, and un- 

 doubtedly on occasions it actually feeds on large quantities 

 ■of growing wheat." 



illustrations. 



Mr Armistead exhibited by means of the lantern a large 

 number of fine pictures, lent by Dr Ward, illustrating 

 chiefly the habits of the gull and other sea birds. The first 

 series showed what had been found in the stomachs of 



