1895-96.] Gossip about Gulls. 159 



fed her. While we were small children she obliged us to 

 give her a wide berth, as she would run at us ; and many a 

 sharp wound her hooked bill inflicted on little legs. She was 

 as vigilant as any watch-dog. If a hand touched the latch 

 of the garden gate, or creaked it ever so slightly, Cora heard 

 and " gave tongue " by a grave and warning " ko-h-h ! " Any 

 food you liked to give her was welcome, — porridge or dry 

 bread, fish, meat, mice, sparrows, or potatoes. She recog- 

 nised our father, and treated him differently from every one 

 else, permitting him to stroke her, and never attempting to 

 snap at his hand as she did all the others. While he was 

 stroking her and speaking to her, Cora would move round 

 and round, ducking her head in a pleased manner and saying, 

 " Plee ! plee ! " in the gentle tone which a young scorie uses. 

 That is the first word which a baby gull learns, and it means 

 much the same as the " ma-ma ! da-da ! " of other biped 

 babies. 



Cora feared no foe. Our dogs never ventured inside the 

 garden gate. Prowling cats never got a chance of harrying 

 little nests within those sacred precincts, for though the scorie 

 could not make much of pussy in personal combat, she could 

 give warning of the enemy's presence. Cats have a profound 

 objection to being brought under observation when taking 

 their walks abroad, therefore when Cora's " ko-h-h ! kwep- 

 papep ! " was heard pussy would retire in disgust. 



While I was growing up my father interested me with the 

 task of feeding Cora. I honestly tried to make friends with 

 her, but all in vain. Then I grew to dislike her, for I loved 

 that garden as much as she did. It was there I liked to sit 

 and dream, and try to put my dreams into verse. But Cora 

 would hunt me out, and suddenly startle the Muses into 

 silence by a vicious onslaught at my boots and skirts. I 

 would chase her round and round till we were both breath- 

 less, but that never cured her. At last I discovered a corner 

 where the wall was easily scaled. The rose-bushes were 

 thickly set around it, and the tangle of honeysuckle twisting 

 about a gracious plane tree concealed the spot from the path- 

 way. The scorie seldom came to that part of the garden. I 

 could get over the wall noiselessly, and there I spent the long 

 hours of many a happy day unbeknown to Cora. 



