Mar., 1916 
SEA GULLS AT THE EXPOSITION 
49 
of the Exposition offerings, or, if it was there, was inconspicuous among the 
other species; and while the Short-billed Gull ( Lams brachyrhynchus ) was 
abundant along the actual water line on the edge of the marina it never 
seemed to care for anything that looked like dry land, as none was identified 
among the groups that penetrated inland even to a few yards from the water. 
The Bonaparte Gull was entirely absent from the scene. As far as the Short- 
billed Gull is concerned this is rather singular, for the reason that this bird is 
numerous all along the shore line, hovering just above the water’s edge where 
the wavelets cast their flotsam along the northern boundary of the Exposition 
grounds, and yet never drifting landward with the other gulls to partake of 
the bounties there provided. 
The large area of the marina, close to the water’s edge, was evidently a 
most attractive spot for the gulls, and at times the grassy lawn was densely 
peopled with them (figs. 15, 16). Strange to say, while the gulls were only 
moderately timid in the presence of man, and while they must have been accus- 
tomed to the booming of surf and the thundering of huge waves, they were 
very slow about getting used 
to the noises made by auto- 
mobiles, auto-trucks, and the 
racket of the little steam 
train that ran along the ma- 
rina. In fact even a passing 
horse-drawn vehicle would 
make a whole flock take sud- 
denly to wing, when the 
birds would hover about for 
a short time and settle down 
again (figs. 17, 18). Toward 
the close of the Exposition 
more calmness prevailed and 
finally the flocks of gnlls 
grouped upon the green- 
sward would remain quiet 
even when the little steam 
train rattled, chugged and whistled its way along the very edge of their tem- 
porary camping ground (fig. 19). 
About the strangest scene that the writer witnessed happened one morn- 
ing when he wandered into the grounds after the Exposition had closed its 
gates, and found men draining off the fountains and ponds and sweeping out 
the basins. On this occasion the basins on each side of the main entrance were 
being drained and men were at work sweeping up the debris that had collected 
on the bottoms, the water being only an inch or two deep at the deepest part. 
A flock of gulls was taking a great interest in the proceedings and each indi- 
vidual was on the lookout for some tidbit that might have before escaped 
attention. But scant, notice was given to the laborers there at work, or to any- 
body passing by, the birds seeming to recognize the fact that this was their 
last chance at that bit of fresh water, anyway. The reflections in this instance 
were very remarkable and it is quite a puzzle to work them out in the photo- 
graph shown herewith (fig. 20). 
After the closing of the Exposition the supply of food suddenly dropped, 
and the gulls interest greatly waned. Workmen helped somewhat with con- 
