All About " Ari "~A Herring Gull. 95 



to a predatory fox if allowed to pursue his investigations 

 too far afield. 



Duty compelled m\- absence for many months, and 

 it was therefore a considerable time before 1 saw " Ari " 

 again. Then I was granted " leave of absence " and went 

 liome. A good deal of "my " leave was taken up in writing " 

 out a few articles, which, if our good Editor deems worthy, 

 may find insertion in " Bird Notes " during the coming 

 months. Of course all my feathered friends had to be inter- 

 viewed ,and petted first, antl 1 at once renewed my acquaint- 

 ance with " Ari." lie came running to me of his own accord, 

 his voice, persistent and not to be denied, demanding food, 

 1 ga\e' him several choice tit-bits before his tones became 

 " Smaller by degrees and beautifully less." 



He proved as tame as ever when 1 pic ked him up, and 

 scratched his head, and stroked his plumage. 



His favourite point of \antage is a green seat on the 

 lawn. He perches on the top bar, and keeps a watchful and 

 lively eye on his surroundings. He is as good as a watch-dog 

 m this respect. Nothing escapes his notice, and nobody can 

 g'O' upi the drive, or cross the lawn without being spotted by 

 " Ari," and he. lets all whom it may concern, know of the 

 advent of friend or strangers, with his usual loud and pene- 

 trating " call." 



The photographs depict " Ari " in several [josiiions. 

 In one he may be seen calling his loudest for food. In an- 

 other he appears somewhat bellicose, while in a third he is 

 shown wiih outstretched wings flapping away an an e.vtendcd 

 ami. "^Vri's" manners sometimes lea\e a good deal to be 

 desired. For instance the morning after my arrival he 

 appeared at the open window of the breakfast room, and 

 demanded our ijnmediate attention. I turned round and said 

 sternly, " Vou scampi lie off. .\l the word— dye hear?" 

 "Ha, ha!" laugiied " .\ri, as he sprang on to my knee, 

 " (Jobble, gobble," iand, with a cjuick jerk of iiis bill he 

 snatched u piece of ham from' my [)laie and swallowetl it. 

 Absolutely unafraid and cheeky I Any kind of food is wcl- 

 ton:'e; fat jiieut, lean meat, lisli, t!v:c., while lie simply adores 



