206 
NATURE STUDY. 
ionable, he eats it to settle the matter in the quickest way. 
If too tough for him, no harm is done, for indigestible sub¬ 
stances are thrown up in the form of pellets, as is the case 
with owls. A gull’s appetite is large, but as long as food 
is sufficient in quantity, quality is of minor consideration. 
He catches fish when he can, although not a good diver. 
If the fish he catches has been dead some time, it is not 
wasted. All gulls are robbers, preferring of course, to rob 
smaller gulls and other birds, but if this is not possible, 
they cheerfully rob each other. 
When he finds a savory morsel he must be prepared to 
swallow it whole, or share it with all his fellows who can 
get a grip on it. So wild chases and hurried dashes are 
the rule, and strong language is used, suitable to the oc¬ 
casion, intimidating cries and protesting shrieks. At low 
tide they seek the beaches and flats, for clams and scallops 
and small crabs. The clams are often carried up into the 
air and dropped onto the rocks to break the shell. Then, 
toward mid-day, when most birds rest, the gulls gather on 
the sand beach in flocks, and perform their toilet or lazily 
wait for hunger to start them off again. 
These flocks are difficult to approach. The crowd has 
no more courage than the shyest member. One gull quiet¬ 
ly concludes to move, the next instant the air is full of them 
and in two minutes all have vanished but a few innocently 
fishing in the distance. They are equally at home on the 
water, resting or swimming like large white ducks, or sleep¬ 
ing with head under wing. Usually they go to sea at 
night and sleep on the waves, except when looking after 
their eggs or young on the breeding grounds. 
One of the greatest pleasures of a tiresorqe ocean voyage 
is watching the motions of the ever attending flock of gulls. 
On each side and behind the ship they fly, keeping an eye 
open for scraps from the galley, and making wild, headlong 
dives into the water, when any are thrown overboard. The 
