ORDER PALMIPEDES. 64,5 



they cover with their multitudes the flat shores, rocks, and 

 cliffs, causing them to re-echo with their clamours. There 

 are even some species Avhich frequent the fresh waters, and 

 some are to be met with at sea, at more than a hundi'cd 

 leagues distant from land. D'Azara, who has seen them, in 

 innumerable quantities, near the slaughter houses of Monte 

 Video, Buenos Ayres, and even in the squares, where they 

 pick up the offal of the shambles, &c., and sometimes perch 

 on the roofs, tells us that they proceed considerably to tlie 

 inland, whither they are attracted by dead animals. He even 

 adds, that in plantations they will place themselves upon fig- 

 trees to eat of the fruit, a fact but little in accordance with 

 their carnivorous appetite. They are also observed to watch 

 each other, and if one of them seizes any morsel, the rest 

 surround and stun him with their cries, until he is forced to 

 let go his prey. D'Azara has not observed that they attack 

 each other ; but, according to other naturalists, they fight with 

 the most desperate fury, which is redoubled at the sight of 

 blood, and he who is wounded becomes a victim to the 

 voracity of the rest. 



It must be owned, however, that all this appears little 

 likely to take place among cowardly birds, which, moreover, 

 are very badly armed for similar encounters. As the gulls, 

 which are infinitely multiplied, cannot subsist but on food 

 which is presented by chance, or on such prey as they can 

 succeed in taking, they are endued Avith the faculty of sup- 

 porting hunger a long time. M. Baillon kept one which 

 lived nine days without taking any nourishment ; neverthe- 

 less, the want of food, and the fear of failing in getting it, 

 must keep these birds in a perpetual state of agitation. They 

 dart with such violence on their prey, that they will swallow 

 both bait and hook, and spit themselves on the point placed 

 by the fisher under the fish which he presents to them. It 

 is, therefore, very natural that they should pursue individuals 



