The Western Gulls 



Photo by the Author 



seemingly much mystified that the pronunciation 



of the sacred formula, "Open sesame," had failed 



to effect the desired result. Mrs. Bailey tells of a 



fisherman at Tillamook Bay who dug a sack of 



clams, and, not wishing to pause just then to wash 



them and stow them away in the boat, threw them 



down on shore and turned away to dig another 



sackful. When he returned he found that the busy gulls had cleaned 



out the whole pile, opening the shells and cleaning them so expertly that 



not a particle of meat was left. 



It is at the breeding season, however, that the Western Gull accom- 

 plishes real mischief. While he effects a passable truce with his own 

 kind at that season, it is that he may the better combine with his fellows 

 and terrorize all other breeding sea-birds. As an egg-thief and as a 

 kidnapper of infants the Western Gull is simply incorrigible. The only 

 chance which the lesser fowl, petrels and auklets, have of escaping the 



1383 



