CHAF. XXVII.] VORACITY OF GULLS 217 
feet from it, and, having reconnoitred carefully, fall to and 
devour it. It is interesting to see these strong birds battling 
against a high wind, always working to windward, and taking 
advantage of every headland and cliff for a moment’s shelter. 
When going to windward in their search for food (indeed, they 
never fly down wind if they can help it), and perceiving some- 
thing edible, they keep on a short distance beyond it, and then 
drifting back with the wind, drop down upon it. I saw a seal 
last week (April) who had caught a salmon, and was eating it 
above the water. A number of large gulls had collected round 
him, and seemed inclined to dispute his prize, darting down at it 
with clamorous cries. The large grey gull, or wagel, hunts the 
shore in much the same manner; but is still more voracious than 
the black-backed gull. Nothing comes amiss to this greedy 
bird. I have seen a dozen of them feeding on a dead and putrid 
horse, digging it out with their powerful bills like so many ravens. 
I have no doubt a dead human being would be considered a fair 
and lawful prize also. While I am lying ensconced on the 
shore for seals, this bird frequently comes hovering over me, as 
if well inclined to pounce down. If wounded, he does good 
battle against my retriever, aiming (like a heron) at the eyes. 
When shot, he often disgorges a great quantity of food, generally 
small fish; and on one occasidn a wounded wagel brought up, 
amongst a variety of undigested food, a well-sized young kitten, 
which he had somewhere made prize of. The grey gull, though 
frequently feeding in the fields, seems very seldom to take to 
fresh-water lakes. The next sized gull which is common here is 
the blue-back, a beautiful clean-looking bird, though, as far as 
fish is concerned, as great a glutton as the two last-named kinds. 
This bird is particularly conspicuous in its attacks on the salmon- 
fry as they descend the river in May. Thousands of them fish 
in the shallow pools at low-water in the bay, and every bird 
seems to feed wholly on these silvery little creatures as long as 
they are to be had. The quantity that they disgorge when shot 
is perfectly astonishing, and they must be one of the most de- 
structive enemies that the salmon has. Besides these larger 
kinds of gulls there are several smaller species, who hover con- 
stantly about the shore and sand-banks, drifting to and fro, and 
