The Farallon Cormorant 



during activity of any kind. The pulsating movement is rapid and to 

 appearance violent, and it is characteristic not only of this species but of 

 the next as well. 



If the shags take heavy toll of the finny tribes, they pay fearful trib- 

 ute, in turn, to their ruthless overlord, the Western Gull. From the 

 time the first egg is laid, one or the other of the parents must mount 

 guard incessantly to keep the marauder at bay. The gull is a coward 

 and cannot stand up under well directed blows of the shag's beak; but 

 once let the owner's attention be diverted, and the gull slips in to snatch 

 an egg or a stripling youngster. Human intrusion is welcomed by the 

 gull with loud acclaim, for in the great colony of shags many will flee 

 in fear before the man. This is the gull's opportunity, and he will gobble 



Taken on the Salton Sea 



A GROUP OF NESTS 



Photo by the Author 



the uncovered eggs in a trice, or return again and again till all the bant- 

 lings are appropriated. It may be the law of nature, but it always arouses 

 in the beholder feelings of indignation to see a gull seize a helpless black 

 baby by the neck and bolt it in midair, in spite of frantic kicking and 



1944 



