The Story of a Black- headed Gull. 65 



ne'!:her livlcned. 



For food Barred Head would cat anythin.a: and every- 

 thing. His staple diet was fish rut up into small pieces. 

 Cheese was g^rcatly relished as a treat. But his favourite 

 meal was a handful of live minnows placed in a bowl of 

 water. As soon as he spotted tlicm he fished them lUit and 

 swallowed thfm one afler another before you could say " icnife." 



Dear little I'arred Head remained a much bclov-'-d 

 mi.-nibcr of cnir family foi man\" years ; a lamv. and li;aut:tui 

 pel. Neither sunnn-r heat nor winter cold troujicd h'm. Me 

 was always .the same. The only chang'e beinp;" h; liead mark- 

 ings as the seasons cam(^ and w -nr. 



riniln F IhlH-suii Smilh. 

 " Barred-Head "—Winter Plumage. 



Then one direful day fate drew near in the shape of a 

 fox. The brute stole into the grounds at night and burrowed 

 a hole into the run where my little friend was asleep, and 

 poor Barred-head's " number was up.'* I have had many 

 Black-headed Gulls, but never one that gave me the pleasure 

 and interest which my little Barred-head gave. His loss 

 could never be replaced, and he will always be remembered 



