GULLS AS THE FARMER'S FRIEND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 52

GULLS AS THE FARMER'S FRIEND.

TO THE EDITOR. - Sir, —In reading the Hon. G. M. Thomson's concluding article on Gulls on May 21, I observe he makes a statement' to which I think exception may be taken. He says: "They, follow the plough and pick up worms end grubs." Now, Sir, I have, while ploughing for the last 30 years, carefully watched, and though the gulls might be so hungry as "'to almost allow themselves to be struck down with a short stick in their eager scramble for worms, I have never yet seen one pick up a grub (just the reverse to, the little tern). Being confident such is the oase, I needs must take exception to the remark, "They are very useful to the farmer." My humble opinion is that these pretty marauders have not one redeeming feature in their favour from a farmer's point of view. I might state that I noticed a statement by Professor Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, to the effect that gulls feed on grubs, and have often wondered if he had examined their gullets for verification of such an opinion. I doubt it. —I am, etc., Black and White.