124 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



To commence with the herring gull; earth- 

 worms were present in 6.5 per cent, of the birds. 

 No wireworms were found in all the 86 birds 

 examined, only 4 per cent, had taken any insects 

 at all. On the other hand, cereals were present 

 in 19.5 per cent. — that is to say, of 86 herring 

 gulls shot round our shores throughout the year 

 every fifth bird contained grain. 



When a herring gull feeds on grain he does 

 not take it as does the sparrow, but in large 

 quantities. On the plate opposite are the con- 

 tents of a single herring gull shot on September 

 11th, 1918, at sea near Padstow. This bird had 

 taken 140 grains of oats, and 460 grains of 

 wheat. 



In September and October, 1913, herring 

 gulls were known to be taking grain near Pad- 

 stow, and in the table below is given the contents 

 of eight birds shot at sea about a mile from land. 



Sept. llth At sea near Padstow 40 grains wheat, 



otoliths and fish 

 bones. 

 ,, llth „ „ „ 140 grains oats, 



460 grains wheat. 

 „ 30th On the shore near Dumfries 30 grains oats. 

 Oct. 10th At sea near Padstow 250 grains oats, 



larvae craneflies 

 and earthworms. 



