All About " Ari "—A Hcrrintr Gull. 93 



little boy in the village, whose father had brought the bird 

 from Luinga Mhor, a small rocky isle two miles off the 

 coast. ''' Ari " was quite a baby when captured, and only 

 a few weeks old when we so unceremoniously introduced our- 

 selves. The little boy was very fond of his pet. and if "Ari" 

 wandered on the road, and into consequent danger of being 

 run over by a passing vehicle, the little chap would toddle 

 out, pick " Ari " up in his small chubby arms, and laboriously 

 carry him to safety. The gull was quite contented to be 

 nursed like a kitten. He could, had he wished, have wan- 

 dered away for ever, as the Loch was quite near. He often 

 swam in its waters, but always returned after a bath and a 

 splash. After a time his fate hung in the balance. His 

 frqucnt " call " began to annoy the boy's father and the man 

 tried to drive the bird away. This proved futile, as " Ari " 

 always came back. Thereupon, having become a nuisance 

 in the eyes of the "powers that be," he was no longer wel- 

 come, and sentence of death was the verdict he received. 

 My timely intervention thus solved the difificulty, and saved 

 poor '■ Ari's" little life. The little boy was comforted by 

 tiic knowledge that his pet was not to be killed, but was 

 going to a beautiful new home far away. That and a gift 

 for his money bo\- completed the transaction and " Ari " 

 thcreui)on passed into my possession, greatly to our mutual 

 satisfaction. Our further acquaintance had to be postponed, 

 as I had arranged to join my regiment at once, therefone 

 I gavd careful instructions as to "Ari's" transit to fresh 

 ([uartcrs. He was placed in a large, roomy tea-chest, with 

 a thick b^-d of dry seaweed and a plentiful supply of fish, 

 and dispatched on his travels on his long journey down from 

 Scotland to Buckinghamshire. He duly arrived safe and 

 sound and none the worse for his adventures. He was re- 

 moved frt)ni his prison, and placed on the lawn, and soon 

 gave audilile appreciation of his new experiences. He also 

 gave urmislakable proof that he was hungry and a consider- 

 able qL:antity of fish chopped line, disappeared before he 

 ceased gobbling, 'ihcn he ran to the Waders' pool beside 

 the lawn and enjoyed a thoroughly welcome bath and splash 

 after which he looked round as much as to say. " \'ery good. 



