The Heertnann Gull 



Taken in Santa Barbara 



A GRACEFUL LOITERER 



Photo by the Author 



which set the nerves a-tingling, but which itself gave way to a screeching 

 autumnal hue, before one could analyze the ecstasy. Another mood was 

 palest amethyst, or virgin violet, subtle beyond the spell of words. This 

 ,1 saw in bewildering succession and ecstatic repetition, and seized my 

 notebook, the while — Sir Gull — he took a nap. 



This bird might perhaps be more accurately named the Kelp Gull, 

 for it is in the kelp-beds, so abundant off our shores, that it finds its 

 congenial home and feeding ground. Ensnared in the meshes of the 

 plant are many bits of wreckage, mill-waste, or pieces of driftwood, upon 

 which the gulls are fond of riding. Here, too, the gulls find shrimps, 

 Avhich, according to Linton, form an important element in heermanni's 

 bill of fare. The bird is fond also of the smaller fish, and earns its rests 

 by agility here. As Anthony says: "When herring are swimming in 

 compact schools near the surface both Heermann's and Western Gulls 

 secure them by approaching the school from behind and flying near the 

 surface of the water, making repeated quick dips into the school. The 

 fish seek safety in the depths the instant anything occurs to alarm them, 

 but soon return to the surface, so that the gulls by stalking them from the 

 rear are enabled to approach quite near before the fish are alarmed. As 

 soon as the limits of the school have been passed, the gull, rising higher 



H30 



