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122 THE CONDOR Vol. XVIII planes to enable the birds to come to a stop. In addition to this, it was also observed that the bird would occasionally "back water" when alighting. The herons, when about to rise into the air, would first squat and then usually, without further ceremony, jump in?o the air and continue in motion with the long steady strokes of their wings. The pelicans likewise had the habit of squatting and then jumping into the air when starting from the ground. They would often squat and bob up several times when the observer approached as if they were undecided as to whether or not it was necessary for them to go through the exertion of launching and flying off with their corpulent avoirdupois. As a rule, when one or more would start to fly, the whole or the greater part of the colony would follow the example, and the air currents from their powerful wings could be felt fifteen rods away. The roar from such concerted flight could be heard for a mile or more. Figure 35 shows a characteristic scene portraying how the pelicans and gulls refuse to associate in the same flock. The pelicans are occupying exclusively the end of the spit, while the gulls occupy the part next to the island. The Caspian Terns and the gulls, however, were usually seen in the same flocks. There is an impression current in bird literature and among bird people that requires some modification in View of the observations of our party; that is, relative to the disposition of the gull. His general reputation is as being a mild and peaceful bird and never aggressive. Our observations not only did not confirm this but were decidedly to the contrary. I have preViously made mention of the piratical raids upon the nests of the Caspian Terns. In addition to this we saw hundreds of instances of the wanton destruction of pelican's eggs and young by these marauders. Figure 39 shows only a small part of the destruction of pelican eggs by gulls. The eggs were apparently not t'aken for food, as the shells were not broken in a way that indicated that the contents had been eaten, and many were merely pecked in one or several places. Many young pelicans had been killed by being pecked and many of the living were badly lacerat. ed about the head, back and tail. Mr. Treganza states that he has observed that on some occasions the pelicans had posted guards over their section of the colony before going on a foraging expedi2 tion. This is thought to be done to protect the nests and contents from the incursions of the gulls. The gulls around the main part of their colony were continually fighting among themselves and, upon close observation, a great many were seen to have down in their beaks that was as strong evidence as the proverbial wool between the dog's teeth. It can, however, be said to their credit that but two cases were reported of gulls molesting nests of their own species. We saw no indications that the gulls ever disturbed any of the nests or eggs or young of the Great Blue Heron. Whether or not this was due to the fact that the gulls feel no antipathy against this species or whether it was in respons.e to the modern slogan of "safety first", I am unable to state. How- ever, in view of the forbidding aspect of the heron hand the fact that there are usually several adult representatives in and about the colony, I am person- ally inclined to the latter view. A day had been spent on Hat Island, and on the evening of the second day our provisions, sleeping equipment and specimens of eggs and birds were packed and our boat was headed for Egg Island some thirty miles to the east.