BIRDS FOUND NEAR SHORE OR IN BAYS 35 



time to swallow ; then the victor, seizing it quickly, flies 

 away to devour it. Fish brought to the nest of other 

 birds as food for mate or young is stolen by the Western 

 Gulls as soon as laid down, and so expert on the wing 

 are they that but once have I seen punishment overtake 

 them. In this case the bird tried to snatch a fish that 

 had been thrown to a baby seal. Quicker than thought, 

 the seal mother caught the bird by the feet and drew 

 it under the water. In a few moments she rose with 

 the lifeless body, shook it viciously, and tossed it con- 



49. WESTErLH Gull. 



The young gull is taught to fish. 



temptuously away. This occurred at Avalon, Santa 

 Catalina, and was witnessed by many spectators at 6 

 A. M. one May morning. But seals are not usually the 

 victims of these tyrants. Cormorant and murre eggs 

 and young, and even young rabbits, are its favorite bill 

 of fare. Eggs they will steal in spite of all precautions ; 

 a lighthouse keeper tells about covering a pile of eggs 

 closely with a sail-cloth, only to have the gulls work 

 their way under it and carry off every one. 



But in spite of all his faults, the Western Gull is 

 devoted to his mate and nestlings, feeding and guarding 

 them with constant care. Early in May he begins to 

 repair his old nest, stealing material from the cormo- 



