272 
ZOOLOGY. 
coast in December, 1855. On the numerous small islands near the Mexican boundary they 
were very abundant, and, as many winter even at Puget Sound, it is probable that their winter 
migration extends no furtlier south than here. And it is very likely that they reside about 
these islands during summer, as they are known to breed on the islands oS San Francisco bay, 
Avhich can differ very little in climate from these, the prevailing sea breeze causing a very 
uniform temperature along the whole western coast of the United States. 
At Shoalwater bay I had an opportunity of observing the habits of this bird at all seasons, 
though there were unfortunately none of its breeding places to which I had access. It is the 
only species constantly to be seen there, and is abundant, though not occurring in such great 
flocks as some other species do at certain seasons. In flight, appearance, and cries they very 
closely resemble the silvery gull. Their flight is slow, laborious, and "performed by flapping^ 
except in storms and violent blows, when they are fond of soaring to a great height, circling 
round each other like eagles, without a movement of their wings, and often wandering far 
inland — the sure forerunner of a severe storm. 
They feed commonly during low tide, both at night and day. No sooner does it begin to ebb 
than hundreds of gulls, which have been dozing for hours on the beach, or, if the day is calm, 
floating quietly on the water at a little distance, join the long train of screaming godwits, sand- 
pipers, and fish-crows, and fly to the sand-banks, river shores, and muscle-beds, there to feast 
until the returning tide drives them away. If one discovers a dead fish or other dainty food, 
his loud screams, audible for miles, soon summon a crowd of associates, like the vultures, to 
the carcass. Then all is confusion; one flying off with the fish, others pursuing, screaming, 
and striking each other, until they have each had a pull at it, and none is left. The same 
thing occurs if one finds a clam, (of which many species are Avashed out and left on the 
surface by the tide.) As they cannot break the shells with their bill, the successful bird will 
fly towards some well known hard sank-bank, and rising by circling flight fifty feet or more, 
drops the shell. If not broken b}'' the first fall he repeats it, ascending higher each time, or 
flying off to a harder place. As it falls they dive through the air after it, in short oblique 
turns, quite different from their bold headlong plunge after fish in the water. Crabs, sea- 
worms, dead rats, and probably any animal food, is eaten by the voracious gull, which may be 
compared among sea-birds to the raven on land, which feeds also in the same places. 
If the tide has been a very low one, (as happens every alternate fortnight along the western 
coast,) the gulls gorge themselves with food before the return of flood tide, and then sit list- 
lessly until it floats them oft', probably often sound asleep. But they are very difficult to 
approach within shot even then, though they will frequently fly very near a person who is not 
pursuing them, screaming, and observing him with much curiosity. If not satisfied, they watch 
along the edge of the water for the shoals of small sculpins, sticklebacks, &c., that come over 
the shoals with the tide, and, wading in, feed on them as they approach; or, if shoals of herring 
are entering the bay, they sometimes fly over and dive after them. This, however, is too 
laborious a mode for this lazy bird Avhen it can get enough by easier means. About San Fran- 
cisco they have taken advantage of man's presence, and great numbers of these and ring-billed 
gulls feed on the refuse of the markets and sewers, fearlessly resting on the wharves, where 
they are not molested. 
Though so unscrupulous in feeding, this gull is exceedingly neat, and spends hours in cleaning 
and pluming its beautiful feathers, generally sitting in the water and washing itself at the same 
time. No sea bird is more beautiful or graceful in its motions than this, as seen in large flocks 
