Notes. 
277 
The Greater Black-backed Gull and its prey. 
We have been watching the predaceous habits of the Greater Black- 
backed Gull on the long flat sands at vSkerries during the month of 
September. On one occasion we observed through a telescope a murder 
being committed on the edge of the retreating tide. One of the children 
rushed out to the rescue, but only arrived in time to witness the last 
struggles of a young Guillemot, lying with its back broken in the water. 
The huge Black-backed, disturbed, rose slowly, flapped about half a 
mile down the shore, and promptly attacked and killed a second 
Guillemot. The whole proceeding we watched through a telescope. 
The Gull struck at the Guillemot repeatedly ; the latter endeavoured to 
escape by diving, but the water being too shallow it was unfortunately 
unsuccessful. Later on we picked up the remains of the dead Guillemot 
and found that the Black-backed Gull had only cut it open with its 
powerful beak, and had eaten the entrails. We found several other young 
Guillemots killed in the same way, and in each case the Gull had 
devoured the inside only, not touching the flesh. Although we have 
watched the numerous and interesting seabirds at Skerries for many 
years in the month of September, we have never before noticed the 
Greater Black-backed Gull preying on the Guillemot. 
F. W. Shaw. 
Bushy Park, Terenure. 
Woodcock killed by Gulls. 
On 2nd November a Woodcock {Scolopax rusticola) was brought to my 
cabin on board R.M.S. "Virginian/' which was caught at 7.30 a.m. by 
one of our crew, 3^ miles north of Innistrahull. It seemed quite healthy 
and in good condition, but apparently very tired. I put it in a locker, 
and two hours later, when it had to all appearance recovered from its 
recent fatigue, I carried it on deck. It crouched down with its head and 
neck outstretched seemingly not realising for a few seconds that it had 
its liberty, when suddenly it rose and made direct for Ratlilin Island, 
distance about two miles. Scarcely had it flown 300 yards when it 
was intercepted by a flock of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 
One Gull swooped down like a hawk and struck it on the back. The 
Woodcock, finding that it was hopeless to reach land, tried to regain 
the ship, but the whole flock — about twenty— closed in upon it and 
dashed it into the water and commenced to pull it to pieces. This inci- 
dent appears to me to show that large numbers of exhausted and even 
healthy stragglers from flocks are killed yearly approaching our shores. 
