Mar., 1916 
SEA GULLS AT THE EXPOSITION 
45 
bold, paying but scant attention to mankind, and even going so far as to 
clamor to be fed (figs. 6, 7). 
Prom the first the laguna by the Fine Arts Palace had been a favorite 
bathing place for the gulls. This beautiful body of water was appreciated as 
well by some other varieties of waterfowl, among which were some Coots, some 
Ruddy Ducks, a Surf Scoter, a Scaup Duck, and an occasional stray duck or 
two of other varieties which would drop in from time to time. There were 
also tame ducks and some semi-domesticated wild geese on this laguna, but 
none of these seemed to interfere in any way with the repose or enjoyment of 
the gulls except in the way of an occasional “scrap” between them and the 
geese or coots over some bit of food (fig. 8). The gulls, however, mostly con- 
gregated by themselves, their numbers varying with the day and hour. At 
Fig. 8. Gulls, coots and ducks on laguna of Palace of Fine Arts 
times the laguna would be swarming with them, while a constant succession 
could be seen approaching from various directions, with as many leaving or 
merely rising on wing and soaring about only to settle down again. At times 
the birds seemed to be in quiescent mood and satisfied with calm repose, while 
at others the scene would be a busy one, with bathing, ducking under of heads, 
and preening of feathers going on in all directions (fig. 9). 
As the gulls grew fat they grew more saucy, and finally took possession 
of the whole outdoor portion of the exhibition, bathing in any or all of the 
fountains, even in the small ones inside the smaller courts, roosting around 
among the benches, occupying the walks and barely moving out of people’s 
way. Tt actually seemed as if they moved — and then with an air of injured 
