Bird - Lore 



ably resorted to, by each young Gull that we picked up and set upon 

 feet. The bird first voided a large quantity of ill-smelling offal; then, after 

 some gaping and wrenching of the neck, disgorged a cropful of half- 

 digested fish, after which it would scramble away to find another hiding- 

 place. 



Amongst the old birds flying about, very few dark-colored young were 

 seen. 



The day of our visit was cloudless and still ; the heat was intense ; and 

 this, with the stench of addled eggs, decaying fish and excrement dropped 

 by the young and by the old birds circling overhead, together with the 

 swarm of minute flies present everywhere, made the place as unpleasant as 

 it was interesting. 



As we passed other islands of the group, we saw a number of young 

 Gulls swimming in the shelter of the rocks and attended by the parent 

 birds. These were doubtless the more mature young, which had taken to 

 the water upon our approach. 



1 



Its I 



V 



^ 



HERRING GULLS 



