250 
1871. 
Larus argentatus. 
Middlesex County, Mass. 
(Mar.10) 
Still frequent Presh Pond in large flocks. Saw sevt- 
eral to-day sail against an exceedingly strong wind for 
several hundred yards v/ithout a single flap of the wing 
and very swiftly. * 
Apr. 7. 
Saw several on Presh Pond. 
“ 27. 
One v/as seen on Presh Pond (H.Russell). 
“ 29. 
Three were seen on Presh Pond (H.Russell). 
Noy. 9. 
Wont down in the harbor among the shipping for Gulls 
where V70 found them comparatively unsuspicious. After 
shooting dovra one others came to the rescue till we killed 
four. This, hov/’ovor, was the only occasion, before or 
since, when I have known this occur. 
1872, 
Jan. 22. 
Saw one sail down to the ice from a considerable 
height in a beautiful sweep, drop its feet, and alight 
closing its wings without a single flap. * 
Peb. 13. 
They resort to the basin whenever the ice breaks 
up, especially at high tide. This morning several hun¬ 
dred were fishing there for the garbage v/hich forms their 
chief food. Sitting on the ice among a small group of 
these Gulls ware several Crows with which they seemed to 
be perpetually quarrelling, running at them v/ith half 
open wings in a curious manner. In the air, however 
the Crows had rather the better of it, chasing the Gulls 
about on every opportunity. The Herring Gulls fish in 
the following manner: Flying at the height of perhaps 
thirty feet above the vrater they course gracefully about 
until they discover something in the water beneath when 
they poise for a moment over the spot, flapping their 
wings quickly; then v/ith a graceful sweep, dron to the 
surface beneath, and as they pick up the morsel with the 
bill, drop their feet into the water trailing them along 
«hs surface for a fe\7 yards before they rise. While 
poising they occasionally shako themselves violently with 
a single quick vertical flap of the v/ings. 
• 23. 
R.Deane saw them repeatedly take up mussel shells 
high into the air and drop them on the beach to break 
t em, following them immediately dov/n and eating the ex¬ 
posed contents (Revere Beach). 
