210 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



continue this pursuit when the next tide has floated them off their 

 feet. It is then still more curious to see them trying hard to dive, 

 performing that operation as clumsily as a woman throws (Nor- 

 folk, hulls) a stone. The Crah, which is seen by the keen eye of 

 the bird with head held at an oblique angle, is seized as it tries to 

 scuttle away, but in almost every instance with several fronds of 

 the tough Zostera around it ; then the bird queerly struggles to 

 obtain its equilibrium, still holding the grass, with its prey, 

 between its mandibles — in fact, is anchored with the head below 

 the water. In some instances it has to let go everything to 

 regain its breath. 



Now and again, on fine August days, the Black-headed Gulls 

 go " a-worming." The ooze is alive with millions of small red 

 ragworms, Nereis diversicolor (?). I have observed a hundred 

 Gulls, extending a long distance, quartering the ground with 

 some semblance of order and method. Whether they detect any 

 movement in the ooze, or their instinct tells them that in every 

 tiny hole a worm is to be found, I cannot say ; the worms 

 seldom show above the surface unless after a heavy downpour of 

 rain, when thousands are to be seen, blood -red and conspicuous, 

 upon the mud ; it may be washed out, or it may be tempted by 

 the refreshing shower. The Gulls must at such times devour 

 myriads, but they are so easily digested that a three hours' feed 

 would seem to leave the birds as hungry as at the beginning. A 

 worm is pulled out at every second or third step. 



I noticed some very peculiar performances on Aug. 21st, 

 1907, when a couple of Greenshanks were feeding not far from 

 my houseboat. One bird, leisurely working, persistently hopped 

 along on one foot. It did this for so long — a score yards at a 

 time— that I decided in my own mind it had had a leg shot 

 away. It was presently hailed by another, that came hopping 

 along to join it, and the two jogged along in this needless and 

 silly fashion. I was still puzzled at the oddity of the coin- 

 cidence, when the resting leg was dropped, and for a moment 

 or two these birds stood listening to something that had attracted 

 their attention. I have since seen the Greenshank exhibit the 

 same leg-saving methods. 



The Redshanks' habits are always worth watching ; many 

 of them are so well known that I need not refer to them. 



