810 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



over him at a safe distance, not sailing so much as moving to either side 

 with continued flappings. To secure the fishes on which it more usually 

 preys, it sweeps downwards with velocity, and as it ghdes over the spot, 

 picks up its prey with its bill. If the fish be small, the Gull swallows it 

 on wing, but if large, it either ahghts on the water, or flies to the nearest 

 shore to devour it. 



Although a comparatively silent bird for three-fourths of the year, 

 the Great Black-backed Gull becomes very noisy at the approach of the 

 breeding season, and continues so until the young are well fledged, after 

 which it resumes its silence. Its common notes, when it is interrupted or 

 surprised, sound like cacli, cock, each. While courting, they are softer 

 and more lengthened, and resemble the syllables cawah, which are often 

 repeated as it sails in circles or otherwise, within view of its mate or its 

 place of abode. 



This species walks well, moving firmly and with an air of importance. 

 On the water it swims lightly but slowly, and may soon be overtaken by 

 a boat. It has no power of diving, although at times, when searching 

 for food along the shores, it will enter the water on seeing a crab or a 

 lobster, to seize it, in which it at times succeeds. I saw one at Labra- 

 dor plunge after a large crab in about two feet of water, when, after 

 a tug, it hauled it ashore, where it devoured it in my sight. I watched 

 its movements with a glass, and could easily observe how it tore the crab 

 to pieces, swallowed its body, leaving the shell and the claws, after which 

 it flew off" to its young and disgorged before them. 



It is extremely voracious, and devours all sorts of food excepting ve- 

 getables, even the most putrid carrion, but prefers fresh fish, young birds, 

 or small quadrupeds, whenever they can be procured. It sucks the eggs 

 of every bird it can find, thus destroying great numbers of them, as well 

 as the parents, if v/eak or helpless. I have frequently seen these Gulls 

 attack a flock of young Ducks while swimming beside their mother, when 

 the latter, if small, would have to take to wing, and the former would all 

 dive, but were often caught on rising to the surface, unless they happened 

 to be among rushes. The Eider Duck is the only one of the tribe that 

 risks her life, on such occasions, to save that of her young. She wiU fre- 

 quently rise from the water, as her brood disappear beneath, and keep 

 the Gull at bay, or harass it until her little ones are safe under some 

 shelving rocks, when she flies off" in another direction, leaving the enemy 

 to digest his disappointment. But while the poor Duck is sitting on her 



