SoLWAY Nature Notes. 161 



i have many times seen them carry off young Sheldrakes, and 

 on two occasions Knotts. These birds are not protected, 

 but there is no doubt they share in the protection afforded the 

 other gulls, for no one ever shoots them unless it be the 

 keepers, who well know how destructive they are. On the 

 seashore they are never molested. 



It is very doubtful whether it is wise to protect any of the 

 gulls. Until last summer I should have made an exception 

 in the case of the Black-headed Gull, but experience of the 

 damage they did at the Solway Fishery quite altered my 

 views. 



It has often seemed to me that the feeding habits of birds 

 are liable to sudden and unexplainable changes. I do not 

 think one can say of any bird its diet is such and such, and 

 only that. In the case of the Black-headed Gulls at the 

 Solway Fishery there has been an undoubted and disastrous 

 change in their feeding habits. For over thirty years there 

 have been trout in the ponds there under precisely similar 

 conditions to those which obtain to-day, and yet the summer 

 of 191 2 was the first occasion on which these birds became a 

 nuisance. On might suppose that they would take the fry if 

 they took fish at all ; but, strange to relate, it was the year- 

 lings they attacked. These fish at that time were from five 

 to six inches in length. After I had satisfied myself that the 

 gulls were taking the trout, several were shot and examined. 

 This put the matter beyond all doubt. In some birds we 

 found two or three fish, in one five ; all freshly taken. Though 

 everything that could be done was done to keep the birds off, 

 the loss amounted to many thousands of fish. 



The Herring Gull seldom visits the ponds fortunately, 

 and his character is well known. 



Another strange development in the feeding habits of 

 birds occurred three years ago at a set of trout ponds, where 

 Blackbirds suddenly learnt how to catch fry. The know- 

 ledge spread rapidly, and Blackbirds gathered up from all 

 around. Prompt measures were taken, and in a short time 

 all these birds were shot. Since then there has been no 

 further trouble, and it may never again occur to a Blackbird 

 to sfo fishing-. 



