GULLS 125 



Oct. 21st At sea near Padstow 24 grains growing 



wheat with root 

 and blades. 



» 21st ,, „ „ 20|grains growing 



wheat with roots 

 and blades. 



>» 21st „ „ „ 4 grains growing 



wheat with roots 

 and blades. 



»> 21st „ „ „ 2 to 3 grains grow- 



ing wheat with 

 roots and blades. 



The result was so extraordinary that in 

 December of the same year six herring gulls 

 were shot on wheat fields in the same area. One 

 bird was empty, the other five all contained roots 

 and blades of young growing wheat. In one 

 specimen the bird was full from beak to crop 

 and must have contained many hundreds of 

 shoots. 



This material was sent to Dr. Walter E. 

 Collinge for confirmation, and his report is as 

 follows: "I have carefully examined the con- 

 tents of the bottle and find a little grass, part of 

 the body of a slug (Agriolimax agrestis, L.), a 

 little grit, but the bulk of the material is the 

 remains of wheat." 



Mr. Stavely, of Rothesay, describes the 

 herring gull as sitting on the sheaves and feed- 



