862 MISCELLANEA. 



as many minutes. The movement of the birds, whether sweep- 

 ing over the ground generally or swooping down suddenly on a 

 poor devoted insect, was most graceful and dexterous, the insect 

 having very little chance of escape. Before darkness set in a 

 departure towards home was made. As most of the birds were 

 adult it is possible that this late forage was made for the benefit 

 of their young. It would be interesting to know how many 

 miles are traversed by these unwearied birds in a long summer's 

 day. As there appears to be no limitation of working time 

 among them, and as they appear on the wing from early dawn 

 to dewy eve, the number of miles they travel daily must be 

 enormous. And how beneficent must be the services of these 

 insectivorous birds to the agriculturist ! Indeed it is pleasing to 

 find that their unpaid services are rocognized in some parts of 

 our Island and their usefulness fully acknowledged, and that 

 they receive careful protection during the breeding season. — 

 Richard Howse, July, 189Ij.. 



Do Gulls dive under Water to reach their Food ? — Recently I 

 have been more than once asked this question. In 1891, when 

 staying near Sea Houses, North Sunderland, during the herring 

 season, I had several opportunities of seeing and watching some 

 Lesser Black-backed Gulls plunge and dive under water of no 

 great depth for herrings lying at the bottom of the harbour basin. 

 "When the boats were discharging their cargoes many damaged 

 herrings were thrown overboard, some of which floated on the 

 surface and many others sank to the bottom where, as the water 

 became shallow by the ebb tide, they could be distinctly seen 

 shining like pieces of brilliant silver. The floating pieces were 

 soon picked up by birds on the wing, but those resting at the 

 bottom remained till the tide was nearly out. Then the Gulls 

 assembled on the sides of the pier, and first one then another 

 took a "header" from the pier or some projecting timber into 

 the clear water, at the bottom of which the herrings were lying, 

 with sufficient force to enable them to reach the fish at the 

 bottom. On rising to the surface the fish was immediately 

 swallowed before fiight was resumed, a not unnecessary precau- 



