May, 1916 
A VISIT TO HAT AND EGG ISLANDS 
119 
for her own and, acting on this impression, had deposited an egg therein. 
Quite a large number of instances of this kind came under our observation. 
We observed several interesting attempts on the part of gulls to conceal 
their nests and eggs while they were absent. This was accomplished by cover- 
ing them with a few feathers and grasses. In addition to the hiding aspect, 
there might also be in this scheme an idea of protection from changes of tem- 
perature. As is well known, this device is resorted to by nesting geese and 
several of the ducks. 
The homing instinct of the gull was evidenced by a rather remarkable and 
appealing instance. A dead gull was found on a nest. An examination of the 
bird revealed that she had received a gunshot wound in the large pectoral 
muscles of the breast, the blood from which had stained her white breast 
F.'g. 38. Young Gulls. The disruptive nature oe their markings carries out the 
SCHEME OF LIGHTS AND SHADOWS SHOWN IN THEIR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS. 
feathers and the eggs that she had flown thirty miles to reach. I would that 
the thoughtless marksman that fired the fatal bullet could sense the stab that 
every beat of her pinions gave as she performed this journey, her last act of 
maternal devotion. 
White Pelican. — A large number of pelican nests were found on the east 
and south sides of the Island. All these were at some distance from the shore, 
and among the low greasewoods. The nests bore the appearance of being 
simply a mass of pebbles and sand that had been scooped together in a mound 
about twenty-four inches in diameter and four inches high. There was a 
shallow depression in the top of the mound which was lined with short twigs. 
In this the eggs were deposited. Several pelican eggs were found scattered 
here and there on the ground. As all of these that were examined were fresh 
