So?ne In foresting Birds. 237 



solirilous appears to he llicii' i-arc^ of their brood; liow in- 

 ((Mv.sliiii; lo walch the rrluniiii- liird ali-lif near IIm' ih'sI. 

 Ilii'ii p.insiiii;- ill I'roiil oF it ^ pri)L;cii\', caliiih- disia^or^' tlu^ 

 (•(.tiiciits of its crop on the .^'rouiid before tlicin ;nid as pal iontly 

 as a cluckiiii;' licii, teaching them (in the early stages) how to 

 pick up and feed. And what apt pupils 'they are; but few lessons 

 being needed. Again, how soon the young leai^i (or is it in- 

 stinctive?) to crouch on the ground, at any cause for alaini or 

 consciousness of danger. They become practically invisible 

 as they thus crouch, so perfectly do they harmonise with their 

 environment. 



'Then again, how sedate and peaceable they are (T 

 now write of vcspeiM ive jiairs)., how difTei'ent from many other 

 species of birds we know, with whom sparring and un- 

 classical language is very common, liut Gulls liave a sedate- 

 ness and "dignity all their own. 



Even Londoners are acquainted with Gulls, and appre- 

 ciate their beauty, as during the winter and early sjiring they 

 watch and feed the wheeling crowds at the bridges and in tli(^ 

 parks. That they do appreciate their great beauty is ap- 

 parent from the hnoivn fact that city business boys and girls 

 spend a portion of their meagre lunch allowance in the 

 purchase of food for these beautiful, wild creatures of the air. 



Gulls make nice pets and when pinioned, or with the 

 featherb of one wing cut after each moult, they can be left to 

 wandei at will about any roomy garden or back yard, they 

 will eat almost anything, but should get some natural food 

 (already stated), and also have a large shallow vessel of some 

 kind to wade about in. 



The title at head of these notes is "The Rlack-bncked 

 Gull," l)ut I have also written much of Gulls generally; how- 

 ever my readers will have no difficulty in distinguishing one 

 from the other. 



{To he continued). 



Nesting of the Eagle Owl. 



(Bubo nia.r/imas). 

 By Miss E. F. Chawnek. 

 The Eagle Owls have succeeded at last! For the last 

 ^Wi^ yeai's the hen has laid two clutches and incubated them 



