SUMMARYThe food ofL. argentatuson Skomer and Skokholm Islands (Wales) was studied by the analysis of stomach contents, pellets and direct observation.L. argentatusis mainly a scavenger and exists for the most part on fish‐waste and garbage discarded by man. At Ncwborough Warrenargentatusfeeds more on arable land and on the shore than do the Skokholm and Skomer birds.Althoughargentatusfrequently eats limpetsPatellaspp., there is little competition for food between them and OystercatchersHaematopus ostralegusbecause the two species eat different sized limpets.A summary of previous studies into the food ofargentatusis given.L. marinusis mainly a predator feeding on the young of other gulls, sea‐birds and Rabbits but it also eats carrion, offal and fish‐waste when available and during the winter. The numbers of Manx ShearwatersProcellaria puffinuskilled on Skokholm and Skomer are discussed.L. fuscusobtains most of its food on the shore and on arable land. There appears to be little competition, at least in the areas studied, between.fuscusandargentatusfor