Mar., 1916 SEA GULLS AT THE ]tXPOSITION 49 of the Exposition offerings, or, if it was there, was inconspicuous among the other species; and while the Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) was abundant along the actual water line on the edge of the marina it never seemed to care for anything that looked like dry land, as none was identified among the groups that penetrated inland even to a few yards from the water. The Bonaparte Gull was entirely absent from the scene. As far as the Short- billed Gull is concerned this is rather singular, for the reason that this bird is numerous all along the shore line, hovering just above the water's edge where the wavelets east their flotsam along the northern boundary of the Exposition grounds, and yet never drifting landward with the other gulls to partake of the bounties there provided. The large area of the marina, close to the water's edge, was evidently a most attractive spot for the gulls, and at times the grassy lawn was densely peopled with them (figs. 15, 16). Strange to.say, while the gulls were only moderately timid in the presence of man, and while they must have been accus- tomed to the booming of surf and the thundering of huge waves, they were very slow about getting used to the noises made by auto- mobiles, auto-trucks, and the racket of the little steam train that ran along the ma- ? ? rina. In fact even a passing horse-drawn vehicle would make a whole flock take sud- ? denly to wing, when the ,4 } birds would hover about for ? ? a short time and settle (Iown ?_x -.? ? b again (figs. 17, 18). Toward -- ?_ ? the close of the Exposition ? more calmness prevailed and finally the flocks of gulls grouped upon the green- sward would remain quiet Fig. 14. CA?CH?'G BREAD ON TtlE FLY; A STUDY IN ATTITUDES even when the little steam train rattled, chugged and whistled its way along the very edge of their tem- porary camping ground (fig. 19). About the strangest scene that the writer witnessed happened one morn- ing when he wandered into the grounds after the Exposition had closed its gates, and found men draining off the fountains and ponds and sweeping out the basins. On this occasion the basins on each side of the main entrance were being drained and men were at work sweeping up the debris that had collected on the bottoms, the water being only an inch or two 'deep at the deepest part. A flock of gulls was taking a great interest in the proceedings and each indi- vidual was on the lookout for some tidbit that might have before escaped attention. But scant notice was given to the laborers there at work, or to any- body passing by, the birds seeming to recognize the fact that this was their last chance at tkat bit of fresh water, anyway. The reflections in this instance were very remarkable and it is quite a puzzle to work them out in the photo- graph shown herewith (fig. 20). After the dosing of the Exposition the supply of food suddenly dropped, and the gulls' interest greatly waned. Workmen helped somewhat with con-
