126 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



ing on oats ; a specimen shot contained evidence 

 to prove this. 



The herring gull .would therefore appear to 

 take cereals at all seasons. 



This sea-bird certainly cannot be considered 

 to be the farmer's friend, and his land feeding 

 habits do not help to atone for the destruction 

 of fish caused by gulls in general. 



An examination of 92 common gulls showed 

 that 18.5 per cent, had taken earthworms, 

 but again not a single bird contained a wire- 

 worm; 20.7 per cent, had taken insects, one- 

 third of which may be considered beneficial 

 to the farmer; 11 per cent, had taken 

 cereals. 



Though the great majority of common gulls 

 are to be found round the shore and on 

 .estuarine waters, at certain seasons considerable 

 numbers fly farther inland to feed. Here, 

 though they do some benefit by the destruction 

 of injurious insects, this would appear to be 

 outweighed by the damage done to cereals. 

 Thirty common gulls were examined between 

 December 4th, 1913, and March 4th, 1914. All 

 these birds were shot while following the plough 

 in the vicinity of winter wheat, or recently sown 



