•1 H E B R I N G - G U L L .
Eider Ducks leave their nests exposed, these birds, in company with the Lesser iilack-baeked, would
immediately swoop down and destroy the eggs. Before leaving the islands I had ample opportunities
of verifying the truth of these statements; on other parts of the coast also charges of a similar nature
were brought against this species. Oo my last visit to the Ferns 1 was informed by thu egg-gatherers
that Herring-Gulls had of late years greatly decreased in numliers. As but few pairs now nested on the
rocks, the price of their eggs to dealers and collectors was somewhat heavy compared with those of the
lesser Black-backed Gulls, the latter fetching but fourponee a down, while the former wcro sold at threepence
each. As far as I could judge, the Herring-Gulls were considered too scarce to be plundered without
fear of entirely exterminating the small colony still resorting to their old liannts. To distinguish the eggs
of the two species, however, is almost impossible, and doubtless the one did duty for "
equal satisfaction to the majority of purchasers. As previously stated, t
this sue
ies was fa
less abundant
than the Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the large flocks keeping compun;
with the
uggers dur
ng the herringtuber
fishing off the east coast. Small parlies of twenty or even up to three
r four tii
tea that at
of adults
might occasionally be seen; but I never noticed them to form even
met with during the height of the season. Though it does not need
quarter
mithologif
to distinguish
the juveniles of the two species when compared side by side, it is utl
skilled rly impos
ible to for
to the identity of birds in that state of plumage in the clouds circlin
round tl
B boats wh
being hauled.
n an opinion as
e the nets are
1 have, frequently remarked during autumn and winter that large Hocks of Gulls, composed for tho most
part of the Lesser Black-backed, with a few of the Greater Black-backed and Ilei-ring-Gull*, make their
appearance almost daily on Hackling Broad as well as on other of the larger sheets of fresh water in the east of
Norfolk. The birds fly in from the sea-coast usually about midday, and after wheeling round the broad for a
time, settle mar the centre, where some hours are often spent ducking and slushing about in the water before they
return lo the sea. It is probable that these Gulls having made their morning meal on the coast or out at sea
when the nets of the herring-boats nere hauled, visit the inland waters to wash and drink. Immense numbers
also are attracted to the broads should disease break out among the fish ; in the summer of 1H7"), a few pike
and rudd having perished from the effects of some impurity in the water, the Gulls eagerly sought out the
decomposing remains floating round the edges About twenty years ago the whole of the tinny tribe suffered
severely from some unknown cause, the mortality being exceedingly heavy for several weeks. Gulls of all
descriptions were reported by the natives to have arrived in swarms at that time to feast on the repulsive
banquet provided by the rotten and bloated carcassi-s.
During the autumn of 1S7L when shooting on Breydon Water, I noticed quantities of dead eels floating in
the tideway along the banks, while others in the last stage of disease were showing themselves on the surface.
Immature birds uf the two Black-hacked and also of the Herring-Gulls were collected in numbers over tho
river, darting down with loud screams and fighting with I lie greatest fury over the choicest morsels. Tho
excessively unpleasant condition of the fund consumed by these birds may be judged by the fact that two or my
punt men, who bad requested that a shot might be taken into the swarm of Gulls in order to secure feathers for
bed-making, were utterly unable to make use of twelve or fourteen 1 turned over. The foul discbarge running
from the mouths of the birds reudend it impossible lo pluck them; aud though an attempt was made to remove
the feathers with a pair of shears, the unpleasant odour was found to lie unbearable. I am entirely ignorant
as to the cause or nature of the disease from which the eels suffered; they, however, could often be been
• In thia eaie there » • nn disrav. the fiah having Iwi m.nK- ufli •TSL by ~.H:I-I i:I;|nmtj in tliu water; the majority auerr«ICD in mailing
HEI11UNG-GDLL.
protruding their heads above the surface of the water, the throat aud a portiun of the belly being red and
The .laekdaws having proved exceedingly mischievous some years liock on the Bass, the tenant of the rock
pined bread and butter well seasoned with poison on the ledges to which they resorted. This proceeding
certainly had the desired clli'ct, as it cleared oil" the Daws; the larger Gulls, however, also suffered so heavily
that since Hint date but two or three nests of either the Herring- or Lessor Black-backed Gull have been met
with on the grassy slopes on the Bass, formerly a well-frequented breeding-ground. The situation selected for
nesting-purposes by this species renders their eggs extremely liable to fall a prey to unscrupulous visitors who
explore the upper portions of the rock; consequently it is unlikely that these Gulls will again become
numerous in this locality. Some years back I was a witness to the prompt chastisement administered to an
egg-stealcr endeavouring to make his way oil' the rocks with pockets distended by plunder. A custom iu those
days prevailed among the farmers in the disiriet to give a holiday annually to their lalionrers, when the
whole party were conveyed for an outing to the Bass ; on such occasions extra precautious were necessary in
order to prevent the nests on the higher ledges of the rock being rnhlssl of their contents. Three or four uf
the boatmen from Canty Bay were usually stationed at the upper pari of tin- old fortifications iu order to put a
stop to any infringement of the regulations; and on this occasion easily deteclmg tho large number of eggs
that an overgrow n laddie was attempting to carry off, the culprit, having previously protested his innocence,
was tripped up and rolled for a time on the grass. Oh I what a mess that poor laddie was in! It is
highly improbable that the Gulls' eggs suffered from his attentions on the occasion of his next visit to
the rock.
On the shoal water thai stretches at low tide for many miles round suine of the dangerous outlying
sand-banks off our eastern coasts, I have remarked large bodies of these Gulls, together with the Larger and
the lessor Iilack-baeked t lulls, busily engaged iu darling dow u open-mouthed to the waves, plunging I heir beads
below the surface and apparently endeavouring to capture fish. The distance at which the birds were watched
was invariably too great to clearly ascertain the nature of their prey, which was evidently extremely abundant.
Having had my attention drawn to the wounds seen on numbers of codling taken in Yarmouth harbour+,
I came to the conclusion that the cuts eould only have been inflicted by the sharp beak of some bird, and in
all probability these were the fish of which the Gulls were in pursuit. Out of ten score codling captured by
the hook on one occasion, about twenty exhibited deep cuts ou the back and sides. Having repeatedly
examined the injuries inflicted on lisb vvbeu fixed or bitten by congers, cuttle, or their larger relatives, I
noticed that these woimds were totally different, Ix'ing clean cuts, as if sliced with a knife—just such, in
fact, as the sharp aud powerful bills of Gulls would cause when, having seined the fish too near the tail, their
slippery prey succeeded in escaping. The codling exhibiting these marks were of about the same length anil
hulk as an ordinary mackerel; judging from the capabilities of Gulls kept in con linen ion I, I should think
that a fish of this size is about the utmost these birds can swallow. The skipper of one of the luggers to
whom I showed some of these 1is.li was under the impression that the wounds must have been caused by the
broken bolls in the old piles or wreckage about the harbour ; others thought the paddles of the tugs might be
responsible ; considering, however, that the whole of the cuts were either perfectly straight up aud down or at
a very slight angle, they could hardly have been caused by these means,
* I' •[ Uiooe who IUJLLV in >urh Im-uriei u tel-RILFL it mi) not br uul OF place to mention that, aa FAR ai I tin abtr to imruin. tbcro iu no
ditninul inn ¡11 I he ,|UANTITJ of cell »ent OFF TO the I.nndun nuuLet is cviix-iiurncv of Ihe diwu*.
t Formn-tr when I he lnggm brought up in ihp roadi and tho ctxfxt of herring w»re frrriit a-bie. NM>« AHAMJ •MAT mm ID (,ft"the roast
it that amen did art enlei th« harbour in any numhni. Knee the coiutniclion of ihe new nVh-IRH.-IRF at the ritor-aide the; haro deserted Heir
NLD quarter, in the roada and make iheir way up the harbour in iinmeui* ilioaJt, the |HlltlJ of broken Hah and other refuse enrried down by tho