The Audubon Societies 61 



got up and went toward the firs from which the bird's cries came. We made 

 our way through the trees and came to a nest, and when I picked it up I found 

 four little eggs in it. 



I looked for the mother bird and found her lying under a tree — something 

 had broken her leg and one wing. We took her to camp and put splints on 

 her wing and leg and wrapped her up in a blanket to keep warm. We fed her 

 some crumbs and she ate with much appetite and drank as if she had had 

 no water for weeks. She didn't seem to be a bit afraid or even try to get 

 away. Within two weeks she could walk around, so we took the splints off. 

 Soon we took off the splint that was on her wing. That night, as usual, we 

 left her in her box. The next morning she was gone but the next evening, 

 about 5 o'clock, she came back. We gave her some more crumbs and she 

 cuddled in her box. The next morning she was gone again. She did this as 

 long as we were there and when we left we put her box under a fallen tree 

 near the camp. — Mercedes Payne (age 12 years), Orosi, Calif. Member 

 Orosi Junioi Audubon Society. 



[We are all glad that Mercedes' efforts at helping the wounded bird were so successful, 

 and that she was rewarded by its trust and friendship. All efforts to help some kinds of crip- 

 pled birds are unavailing, so we wish Mercedes had told us what kind of a bird it was that 

 she so successfully aided to get well. — A. A. A.] 



JIM, THE SEAGULL 



One afternoon last summer a Seagull landed on our beach. He was pecking 

 at a dead fish that had drifted in. We noticed that he was very young and 

 also tame. I was out rowing at the time, and I rowed in as near as I thought 

 safe and looked the bird over. I noticed that he was hungry for he kept 

 pecking at the fish. We went in so near to him that we could almost touch him. 



When he saw us so near, he took flight. We watched him go until he lit 

 on the marsh. We went over to the marsh and found him in a small pool of 

 water. We had noticed that he was lame and when we went up to him, he 

 just let out little squawks. We then saw that he had a broken leg. 



Then Billy Burnham, a boy that was with us, picked him up and he offered 

 little resistance. We took him home and made a pen for him. He was frightened 

 at first but he soon grew contented when we gave him a piece of fish. We then 

 took him to a man who fixed his leg in splints. After a few weeks he got 

 better and then we let him go. When he got free he circled around a few 

 times and flew away. 



Often he came back and lit in the water in front of our house, but he soon 

 grew wild again and went away forever. We were sorry to lose our friend 

 Jim, but we had to let him go back to his old life. — Warren W. Marton, 

 Everett, Mass. 



[Warren showed the proper spirit when he gave the Gull its liberty as soon as it was able 

 to care for itself. Better by far to have a happy wild, free bird than a discontented caged 

 one. — A. A. A.] 



