Section IY., 1906. [ 291 ] Trans. R. S. C. 



XVI. — A Short Chapter in Comparative Physiology and Psychology. 

 By Professor T. Wesley Mills. 



(Read May 23rd, 1906.) 



1. — Observations on the Habits and General Psychic Behaviours of 

 certain Birds in Confinement. 



2. — Physiological Experiments; Psychological Experiments, etc. 



By Wesley Mills, M.A., M.D., 



Professor of Physiology in McGill University, 



During the past three years I have been able to keep under 

 observation for a considerable period, three sea-gulls, a hawk and a 

 crow, and it is upon observations and experiments on them that the 

 present paper is founded. For the hawk and the sea-gulls I am 

 indebted to medical students of McGill University. The crow was 

 secured for me by one of the physiological staff, Dr. A. A. Eobertson. 

 The gulls were of the black-headed variety, and the hawk was a com- 

 mon hen-hawk. 



Habits. — The Sea-Gulls. 



These came into my possession on October 8th, 1904. They were 

 at once put into a fairly large apartment enclosed by wire netting in 

 which I also kept pigeons. In this enclosure there was always a large 

 dish of water. The gulls could not be induced to eat for three days, 

 but on the fourth they accepted a little lish and meat. The food was 

 always put in the water. After the lapse of ten days they would come 

 towards the dish as soon as food was put into it and they soon con- 

 sumed in all alx>ut one pound of meat or fish daily. Bread and grains 

 were only taken in case of extreme hunger, and then in small quantities. 

 They were fond of fish and meat, but were specially partial to mice, 

 which they swallowed whole. They bathed very freely in the water 

 supplied to them. From the first they attempted to bite when handled, 

 and could do so most effectively. 



The Hawk. 



This bird was brought to me on September 10th, 1903. He was 

 at once placed in a large cage made of very strong wire in which 

 he was kept in the Laboratory till his death, on February 4th, 1904. He 



