BIRDS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. 255 



Three or four would usually waylay the one bird. Dropping with 

 noisy cries on to the water these would surround their victim, 

 and impudently try and snatch the newly caught fish from its 

 huge bill, which, however, the Pelican wisely kept three parts 

 submerged until the prize was successfully swallowed. On many 

 occasions I noticed that the Gulls actually settled on the Pelican's 

 back, from which coign of vantage they could easily reach the 

 tucked-in bill by stretching their heads out and past the other 

 bird's neck. In this way the wretched Pelican would be com- 

 pletely encircled by its tormentors, and the slightest " slip " no 

 doubt meant the loss of its meal. But although I watched this 

 amusing performance repeated scores of times, I cannot honestly 

 say that these avine pickpockets (or would pick-pouches be a more 

 appropriate term ?) appeared to be often successful. On the 

 other hand, numbers of Gulls were sitting on the beach, preening 

 their feathers with all the self-satisfied airs of well-fed birds, 

 and there is no doubt in my mind that these, at any rate, had 

 succeeded in stealing a meal. 



At this season Gulls appear to be rare round the coasts of 

 Trinidad and Tobago, and beyond a few individuals seen in the 

 Gulf of Paria, the above are the only birds I have yet observed. 

 This is not surprising when one remembers the volcanic origin 

 of the Antilles and the almost tideless waters that surround 

 them. This dearth of suitable feeding grounds is no doubt 

 responsible for the evolution of this piratical habit, though it 

 must be confessed it does not appear to be confined to the Larus 

 atricilla visiting the West Indies, for Lord Warwick tells me he 

 has seen them behave in precisely the same manner off Charlotte 

 Harbour, Florida. I have observed a somewhat analogous habit 

 among our own Black-headed Gulls (L. ridibundus) in East Scot- 

 land. These Gulls, somewhat closely allied to the American 

 species, will often associate with the autumn and winter flocks of 

 Green Plover, with the sole idea of allowing these birds to cater 

 for them. Segregated individuals may be seen standing here 

 and there in the midst of these flocks, waiting patiently until the 

 nearest Plover discovers a worm. This is the Gull's opportunity : 

 he promptly falls upon the rightful owner, and, if lucky, succeeds 

 in driving it away before it has time to devour the wriggling and 

 reluctant annelid. 



