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THE HERRING GULL 



Larus argentatus, Buunn. 



PLATE CCXCI. Male. 



On the 22d of May 1833 I was kindly received with my party on 

 board the United States' revenue-cutter the Swiftsure, commanded by 

 Captain Cooledge, and on the morning of the next day was landed on 

 White Head Island, at the entrance of the Bay of Fundy. This island 

 is the property of a worthy Englishman of the name of Fbankland, who 

 received us with great hospitality, gave us leave to ransack his domains, 

 and invited us to remain as long as we pleased. The Herring Gulls, he 

 said, were breeding in great numbers, and we might expect good sport. 

 We immediately set out in search of them, directing our course toward 

 the pine woods, in which we were informed we should find them, and in 

 approaching which we passed over an elevated marsh of great extent. As 

 we came up to the place I observed that many of the Gulls had alighted 

 on the fir-trees, while a vast number were sailing around, and when we 

 advanced nearer, the former took to wing, abandoning their nests, and all 

 flew about uttering incessant cries. 



I was greatly surprised to see the nests placed on the branches, some 

 near the top, others about the middle or on the lower parts of the trees, 

 while at the same time there were many on the ground. It is true I had 

 been informed of this by our captain, but I had almost believed that, on 

 arriving at the spot, I should find the birds not to be gulls. My doubts, 

 however, were now dispelled, and I was delighted to see how strangely 

 Nature had provided them with the means of securing their eggs and 

 young from their arch-enemy man. My delight was greatly increased on 

 being afterwards informed by Mr Frankland that the strange habit in 

 question had been acquired by these gulls within his recollection, for, said 

 he, " when I first came here, many years ago, they all built their nests 

 on the moss and in open ground ; but as my sons and the fishermen col- 

 lected most of their eggs for winter use, and sadly annoyed the poor 

 things, the old ones gradually began to put their nests on the trees in the 

 thickest parts of the woods. The youngest birds, however, still have 

 some on the ground, and the whole are becoming less wild since I have 



