60 
the lake after the breeding-season is over. On one occasion a pair of these birds, having by some 
means or other lost their own brood, returned to the lake earlier than usual. I brought up a j'oung 
bird belonging to another brood, and placed it on the lake ; and the bereaved parents at once took to 
it, tending it with the greatest care and solicitude. It is extremely interesting to watch these birds 
in their ordinary search for food during windy weather. The prevalent winds blow either up or 
down the lake ; and when seeking food, the birds soar against the wind along the margin of the lake 
on one side, until they reach its extremity, when they at once turn and run down before the wind to 
the other end, where they recommence their soaring flight. But the most singular circumstance is 
that in the main valley they pursue various species of moths, which occur in large numbers amongst 
the tussock grasses, and especially in sedgy patches occupied by standing water. I could not for 
some time make out the object of their peculiar flight ; but a friend of mine (Mr. R. W. Fereday, of 
Christchurch), who was lately on a visit with me for the purpose of collecting the lepidoptera of the 
district, whilst pursuing a large moth, observed one of these Gulls swoop at and capture it. We 
then noticed that some five or six of the birds were busily engaged in feeding on the moths, pursuing 
them very much as other insectivorous birds would do. The birds which frequent the lake become 
very tame, one pair in particular readily taking a worm from my outstretched hand, and constantly 
coming close to the house for food. Nothing can exceed the pureness and delicacy of their plumage 
when in full feather. It is doubtful whether this kind ever visits the sea-coast.” 
The specimens on which Mr. Potts founded his description of Lams hulleri Avere obtained near 
the mouth of the Waimakariri river ; and, as already mentioned, I met with the same bird on the west 
coast. The Black-billed Gull is therefore not confined to the inland lakes, as was hitherto supposed, 
but also frequents the mouths of rivers and estuaries, where it appears to mingle freely with the flocks 
of Lams scopulinus, Sterna frontalis, and other birds having a community of interest. It is com- 
paratiA'ely plentiful in Queen Charlotte’s Sound and at Nelson. I have met with it frequently in 
Wellington harbour, as well as in ports further north ; but it is far less common than the Red-billed 
Gull, from which it is easily distinguished on the wing by the black extremities of the primaries. It 
seems to be less social in its habits than the last-named bird, for I have generally noticed it associating 
in pairs W'hen not commingling with flocks of the other species on their common feeding-ground. On 
the wing it is more Tern-like than L. scopulinus, and is generally less approachable. 
Like the preceding species, the Black-billed Gull deposits its eggs on the bai’e ground, its attempts 
at forming a nest being of the rudest kind, a few bents of grass or other dry materials loosely collected 
round the edges being deemed a sufficient preparation. There are two examples of the egg of this 
Gull in the Canterbury Museum, both very handsome in appearance, but diflfering entirely in the 
style and distribution of their colours. One of these is of a narrow ovoid form, measuring 2T5 inches 
in length by 1’65 in breadth ; it is of a dull yellowish white or pale buff, covered with numerous spots 
and irregular markings of dark brown ; these markings are more numerous towards the thicker end, 
forming a broad zone and displaying fantastic shapes not unlike some of the characters in the Chinese 
alphabet ; and on one side of the egg, commencing at the smaller end, there is a large blotch of 
rich umber-brown, varied with a darker brown, and covering more than half its surface. The other 
example is somewhat smaller and more rounded in form ; the ground-colour is a delicate greenish 
grey ; about the middle of the egg there is a narrow belt of a brighter tint of green ; near the thick 
end there is a broad dark zone formed of obscure inky blotches, varied with irregular markings of 
blackish brorvn ; and over the entire surface there are small scattered spots and markings of a rich 
dark-brown colour. A specimen in my son’s collection, obtained at Preservation Inlet, measures 2*25 
inches in length by Iffi in breadth, being more elliptical in form than the eggs of Larus scopulinus. 
It is of a dark cream-colour, the surface covered with numerous irregular spots of purplish brown, 
some having the usual washed-out appearance, and ornamented with peculiar pencilled markings 
resembling Arabic characters, which form themselves into a broad zone near the larger end. 
