160 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
cases, however, it was evident that the mussel shells had 
been regurgitated, as they were quite whole, the soft 
parts were undigested, and the valves not even separated. 
Some of the undamaged shells measured 23 millimetres, 
or nearly an inch in length. In the Quarterly Report 
drawn up in January, 1910, I reported on the destruction 
of young cockles by gulls on the Flookburgh beds. 
These beds are on the opposite side of the Leven from 
the Ulverston mussel beds. They extend eastward along 
the sands in front of the village of Flookburgh, and still 
further East. Since the beginning of the war, many of 
the Flookburgh cocklers have gone into the munition 
works, and the fishery has decreased. The reduced 
fishery doubtless leaves more cockles undisturbed in the 
sands than when there is great activity. It is difficult 
to say whether cockles, when undisturbed, are beyond 
the reach of the seagulls. The fishermen say they have 
seen the gulls tread the cockles to the surface with their 
feet, much in the same way as a man uses the “‘ jumbo.”’ 
This may be an exaggeration. When the cockle fishery 
is being prosecuted, the cockles collected are riddled to 
remove the undersized ones. These are usually left on 
the surface of the sand, and are practically presented to 
the gulls. It may well be that in the absence of a cockle 
fishery the gulls are compelled to obtain other food, and 
so take what is easily to be had. This would explain 
their feeding on barnacles, “‘henpens’’ and young 
mussels, as these are all on, or very close to, the surface 
of the sand. The fisherman will not object to the 
destruction of every barnacle along the shore, as he looks 
upon them as an affliction that could be well done 
without. ‘“‘Henpens’? and young mussels, when 
abundant, generally attract flounders and plaice. An 
extensive competition by gulls for this kind of food 
might interfere with the development of a fluke fishery. 
