HERRING GULL. 591 



with incubation went off" to the same rocky islands to roost, flying in silence, 

 and mostly in files. It was curious to observe that, whenever a large flock 

 made towards the sea cackling, all the ducks about immediately flew off 

 to a considerable distance, as if afraid of them ; and we saw that these 

 Gulls, although timorous in the presence of man, shew great courage in 

 attacking predatory birds, such as Jays, Crows, Ravens, and even Hawks, 

 which they pursued and forced into the deep woods, or drove away from 

 the vicinity of their nests. 



Shy and wary nearly in as great a degree as the Black -backed Gull, 

 they were with difficulty obtained, unless we approached them under 

 cover. The least noise made them instantly leave their perch, and al- 

 though there were six of us, each furnished with a good gun, and some 

 sufficiently expert, not more than a dozen were killed that day, and all 

 of them while flying. The moment one started, it would sound an alarm, 

 on which hundreds would rise and sail over us, at such a height that it 

 M'as useless to shoot at them. Now and then, one accidentally passing 

 low over the woods, was brought down. While returning in the evenino' 

 we shot one at a great height, having merely broken the tip of its wing. 

 Having caught it, we placed it on the narrow path, on which it ran be- 

 fore us nearly to the house of the Governor, as Captain Fkankland is 

 called. It offered no resistance, but bit severely, and now and then lay 

 down to rest for a few moments. It ran fast enough to keep several yards 

 before us, cackling all the while, and once suddenly made off from the path 

 at a rapid rate. 



Their flight is as strong as that of the Great Black-backed Gull, but 

 more buoyant as well as graceful. During the love season their aerial 

 evolutions are extremely beautiful ; they pass through the air in wide cir- 

 clings, at a great height, and then come down in curious zigzags until 

 near the tops of the trees, or the surface of the sea. While in pursuit of 

 fish, they dart in curved lines with great rapidity, frequently wheeling 

 suddenly when over their prey, and falling towards it. When travelling, 

 they pass indifferently over the land or the water, but generally at a con- 

 siderable height. Their food consists principally of herrings, of which 

 they destroy great numbers, following the shoals. They also feed on 

 other fishes of small size, shrimps, crabs, and shell-fish, as well as on young 

 birds and small quadrupeds, and suck all the eggs they can find. The 

 rocky shores of the islands on which I found them breeding are covered 

 with multitudes of sea-urchins, having short greenish spines, which o-ive 



