The Audubon Societies 



225 



These rocks are the homes of Gulls, Murres and Puffins. The Gulls are 

 very pretty birds, especially the grown ones, which are a bluish gray and 

 white. The young are speckled brown and white in color. They have rather 

 long legs, very large wings but a small body. The neck is long, with head 

 similar to that of a Duck, but with a pointed beak bent at the point. 



When seen on the beach or flying, they look large and heavy, but we have 

 picked up injured ones on the beach and found them very light in weight. 

 Sometimes they have a wing injured by a shot or a crippled leg where a crab's 

 claw has had hold, or so it looks to us. They are graceful birds in flight or 



GULLS AT r, V\no\'. OREGON 

 "The beach, which is considered by everyone who has had the pleasure of seeing it as the most 



beautiful one on this coast" 



when walking. Of all birds I think them the least timid, and am sure they 

 could be easily tamed. For a long time one would come and sit in front of our 

 house and we would feed it and talk to it. Each day it came closer, but after 

 a time it came no more. 



As everyone knows Gulls are scavengers and will follow ships on their 

 voyages, watching for any scraps of food which may be thrown overboard. A 

 great many people are annoyed because they come and steal food from their 

 chickens. At noon each day they visit our school-house to look for bits of 

 lunch which the children leave. For a time some of the boys tried to catch 

 them. They soon learned the lesson and now stay perched out of reach until 

 the lines form for the children to return to lessons, when down they fly for their 

 lunch. People think it odd they do not bother us as we are so near the beach. 



