356
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1897
Dec. 11
(No.3)
  The Gulls composing this great flock spent a
larger part of their time this morning either
in floating idly on the surface or in washing &
preening themselves. At times fully half of the
total number were simultaneously engaged in the
latter occupation. They would first thrust their
heads and necks beneath the surface and raising
them suddenly send a quantity of water over their
backs at the same time beating the surface with
their wings. After repeating this twice or thrice they would
shake themselves to throw off the water and then
begin passing their feathers through their bills. It
was a pretty sight to see many of the great, white
birds thus occupied with the spray thrown up by
their powerful wings flashing in the sunshine.
  The only difficulty that I had in counting them
was due to the fact that so many were constantly
joining and leaving the flock. Dozens would
arrive together coming from both the South & east, flying
at a great height while over the land but on
reaching the pond shooting down on a long incline
with set wings and at a rate of speed that I
do not remember to have ever seen equalled before
by any birds of this species. They were remarkably
silent for so large a body of birds but every now
and then they would raise their wild, thrilling
clamor making the air ring with it for a few
moments.
  I did not see any of them flying about in search
of food but the swimming birds were continually sipping
the water and, I think, feeding to some extent on
small floating objects.