New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24

about March 20. the birds going Just IN advance
OF the first warm storm and returning Just In
advance Of the first cold storm in September. to
take the place OF the summer gulls. which have
gone south for the winter. or the various spe-
cies some of which larger. this Is not only
the most familiar to the eyes OF this latitude.
but the most interesting. Some OF the larger
gulls such the coffin carrier" so called be-
cause OF its dark back. are swashbuckling free
hooters These prefer to let other and smaller
birds DO the grubbing for the food They lie In
wait for them. like stage coach robbers. and
hold them up as they wing their way along
toward their nests with some small fish in their
beaks. Not only do these larger gulls play the
part Of robbers. but they are cruel. killing the
young and destroying the eggs of other birds.
The herring gulls do not have that unpleasant
characteristic. They always beautiful to
look upon. although their business IS that Of the
scavenger There is never a stain upon the pure
white and delicate peaIly blue OF their coat.
The herring gull may be distinguished from
other gulls that are familiar by the distinct
black the tips Of the longest wing feathers.
Occasionally one will see in the midst OF the
flock one whose general color is a sort OF brown.
This is one OF the young. which has not fully
matured They do not assume the beautiful
tints OF the adult bird until their second year.
These gulls are long distance flyers. 1t is
certain that they have followed half way across
the ocean in the wake OF the great steamships
In order to pick up the refuse thrown over
board. and It Is thought that they have crossed
from America to Europe AS gulls some
times seen throughout the voyage they either
have followed all the way or have been met
IN midocean by others from the British Isles
The same species is found on both sides of the
Atlantic
The shores OF the Great Lakes. the Adron-
dacks, the rocky islands or the coast of Maine,
Perez Rock On the Gulf OF St lawrence and
the barren and messy shores OF Labrador arc
some OF the breeding places Here in the early
summer months they build their nests. These.
when placed the surface of the rock. are
usually OF grass, weeds. MOSES, Hchens. kelp.
feathers. wool bark and small bits OF drift and
rotten wood. the combination being in the form
OF a bowl twenty-four inches in diameter at
the base and ten inches at the top They
ally lay three eggs about the size OF those OF
the barnyard hen The male and female alter
nate In sitting the eggs When the young
are Matched, almost Immediately they pack of
into the grass. where they hide. They grow with
great rapdity, and three days after they have
Clipped their way out OF the end could
never realize that they came from small
egg. They cock their heads to one side with a
wise look away beyond their days they en-
deavor to balance their fluffy bodies on their
clumsy legs.
Sometimes the parents get into difficulties
their offspring much after the manner OF
human beings a heartrending case of infanti-
eide which resulted in quarrel between two
adults is described by William L. Baiy who
visited the breeding places the Maine coast
in 1902 AN old bird" according TO Mr.. Baily.
was striking the head OF a bird about ten days
old. The helpless little fellow. with quiverins
wings imDlOred the old one % ST hut with
only occasional pauses he continued the torture.
just as n cat does before eating mouse. Then
he would strike his victim in the back. pulling
out it's half-grown feathers. The blows came
harder and harder. and when the poor thing
collapsed the old bird walked away few feet
and uttered the worst noise he was capable of.
but returned to finish his work at the sound OF
a last weak cry. a few minutes later another
old bird faced the murderer, and they cursed
each other for all they were worth. but no at
tempt was made to strike What the relation