58 
THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 
and spotted with brownish-black, dark umber, and dull purple. Like those 
of most other Gulls, they afford good eating. This species lays from the 
middle of May to that of June, and raises only one brood in the season. 
The birds never leave their eggs for any length of time, until the young 
make their appearance. Both sexes incubate, the sitting bird being supplied 
with food by the other. During the first week, the young are fed by having 
their supplies disgorged into their bill, but when they have attained some 
size, the food is dropped beside or before them. When they are approached 
by . man, they walk with considerable speed towards some hiding place, or to 
the nearest projecting ledge, beneath which they squat. When five or six 
weeks old, they take to the water, to ensure their escape, and swim with 
great buoyancy. If caught, they cry in the manner of their parents. On 
the 18th of June, several small ones were procured and placed on the deck 
of the Ripley, where they walked with ease and picked up the food thrown 
to them. As soon as one was about to swallow its portion, another would 
run up, seize it, tug at it, and if stronger, carry it off and devour it. On 
the 23d of that month, two individuals, several weeks old, and partly 
fledged, were also brought on board. Their notes, although feeble, perfectly 
resembled those of their parents. They ate greedily of everything that 
was offered to them. When fatigued they sat with their tarsi placed on the 
ground and extended forward, in the manner of all the Herons, which gave 
them a very ludicrous appearance. Ere a month had elapsed, they appeared 
to have formed a complete acquaintance with the cook and several of the 
sailors, had become quite fat, and conducted themselves much like Vultures, 
for if a dead Duck, or even a Gull of their own species, were thrown to 
them, they would tear it in pieces, drink the blood, and swallow the flesh in 
large morsels, each trying to rob the others of what they had torn from the 
carcass. They never drank water, but not unfrequently washed the blood 
and filth from their bills, by immersing them and then shaking the head 
violently. These birds were fed until they were nearly able to fly. Now 
and then, the sailors would throw them overboard while we were in harbour. 
This seemed to gratify the birds as well as the sailors, for they would swim 
about, wash themselves, and dress their plumage, after which they would 
make for the sides, and would be taken on board. During a violent gale, 
one night, while we were at anchor in the harbour of Bras d’Or, our bark 
rolled heavily, and one of our pets went over the side and swam to the 
shore, where, after considerable search next day, it was found shivering by 
the lee of a rock. On being brought to its brothers, it was pleasant to see 
their mutual congratulations, which were extremely animated. Before we 
left the coast, they would sometimes fly of their own accord into the water 
to bathe, but could not return to the deck without assistance, although they 
