58 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



(Anas boscas), but I saw one lot of Teal [Nettion crecca), and 

 recognized several Shovelers (Spatula clypeata). By the way, 

 the latter bird is far more of a salt-water duck than is generally 

 supposed. I have observed it both on the Lancashire and the 

 Scottish coasts, and on three occasions I have found the stomachs 

 (including that of an Irish specimen) full of the shells of 

 Hydrobia. I saw none of the above three ducks under circum 

 stances which suggested that they were interested in Corophium. 

 The Shelducks (Tadorna cornuta) came up each day with the 

 tides, and worked the shallow pools in a half-hearted manner ; 

 and as these waters held nothing except the crustaceans, I must 

 include the bird as an enemy, but almost a negligible one, of 

 Corophium. 



A mile or so distant from the area under observation there 

 is an important breeding place of the Lesser Black-backed Gull 

 (Larus fuscus) , and throughout the spring and summer the sands 

 are crowded by the birds. But I never saw one of these Gulls 

 attempt to disturb the crustaceans, and do not hesitate to say 

 that Corophium is not a regular item of food for the species. 

 Out in Morecambe Bay the Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and the 

 Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) were numerous, and I saw a 

 single Common Gull (L. canus) inland near' Kendal on August 

 9th ; none, however, was noticed at Sandside during my stay, 

 and the only other Gull besides the Black-back was the ubiquitous 

 Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus). On my arrival I found 

 few young and adults settled on the sands, and when the Black 

 backed Gulls vanished (August lst-5th), there was a great influx 

 of Black-heads, and these commenced immediately to prey upon 

 the crustaceans, and confined themselves to this diet. It is 

 quite possible that the Black-backs from the great Foulshaw 

 gullery move northicards in August, for, at the end of that 

 month, in 1910, I noted the species as the commonest Gull 

 amongst the lakes ; and in a flying visit at the beginning of 

 August few were to be seen. 



At this point we may stop to consider that on this square 

 mile of sand, and within two inches of the surface, there are 

 seven hundred tons of animal food untouched by terrestrial 

 vertebrates, and brought within reach of aquatic organisms for 

 but a very short period each fortnight. The birds which visited 



