THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 175 



and spotted with brownish-black, dark umber, and dull purple. Like those 

 of most other Gulls, they afford good eating. This species lays from the 

 middle of May to that of June, and raises only one brood in the season. 

 The birds never leave their eggs for any length of time, until the young 

 make their appearance. Both sexes incubate, the sitting bird being supplied 

 with food by the other. During the first week, the young are fed by having 

 their supplies disgorged into their bill, but when they have attained some 

 size, the food is dropped beside or before them. When they are approached 

 by man, they walk with considerable speed towards some hiding place, or to 

 the nearest projecting ledge, beneath which they squat. When five or six 

 weeks old, they take to the water, to ensure their escape, and swim with 

 great buoyancy. If caught, they cry in the manner of their parents. On 

 the ISth of June, several small ones were procured and placed on the deck 

 of the Ripley, where they walked with ease and picked up the food thrown 

 to them. As soon as one was about to swallow its portion, another would 

 run up, seize it, tug at it, and if stronger, carry it off and devour it. On 

 the 23d of that month, two individuals, several weeks old, and partly 

 fledged, were also brought on board. Their notes, although feeble, perfectly 

 resembled those of their parents. They ate greedily of every thing that 

 was offered to them. When fatigued they sat with their tarsi placed on the 

 ground and extended forward, in the manner of all the Herons, which gave 

 them a very ludicrous appearance. Ere a month had elapsed, they appeared 

 to have formed a complete acquaintance with the cook and several of the 

 sailors, had become quite fat, and conducted themselves much like Vultures, 

 for if a dead Duck, or even a Gull of their own species, were thrown to 

 them, they would tear it in pieces, drink the blood, and swallow the flesh in 

 large morsels, each trying to rob the others of what they had torn from the 

 carcass. They never drank water, but not unfrequently washed the blood 

 and filth from their bills, by immersing them and then shaking the head 

 violently. These birds were fed until they were nearly able to fly. Now 

 and then, the sailors would throw them overboard while we were in harbour. 

 This seemed to gratify the birds as well as the sailors, for they would swim 

 about, wash themselves, and dress their plumage, after which they would 

 make for the sides, and would be taken on board. During a violent gale, 

 one night, while we were at anchor in the harbour of Bras d'Or, our bark 

 rolled heavily, and one of our pets went over the side and swam to the 

 shore, where, after considerable search next day, it was found shivering by 

 the lee of a rock. On being brought to its brothers, it was pleasant to see 

 their mutual congratulations, which were extremely animated. Before we 

 left the coast, they would sometimes fly of their own accord into the water 

 to bathe, but could not return to the deck without assistance, although they 



