1895-96-] Gossip about Gulls. 163 



Hens have a foolish feminine habit of " blethering " about 

 every little thing, and the scorie soon learned that when a hen 

 emerged from the door -hole screaming and cackling a nice 

 fresh egg was sure to be inside. He would creep through and 

 seize the dainty. If another hen happened to be inside there 

 would be a rumpus, and the wild cries of scorie for help would 

 bring me to the rescue. 



At twilight the hens slowly, one by one, would retire to 

 roost in the hen-house ; but Jacob, the patriarchal old rooster, 

 never retired until every one of his household had disappeared. 

 He had to stoop his stately crown to get in at the little hole ; 

 and then was scorie's chance of revenging himself for many 

 slights received during the day. When Jacob was half through 

 the gull would seize firmly on his long tail feathers, and then 

 there would be a fine tussle. Not seldom Jacob left a graceful 

 plume in possession of his enemy. I was obliged to fence off 

 a bit of the back -garden and put the gull there, because 

 chickens as well as eggs became his prey. Of course Jacob 

 could have settled all disputes after his own fashion, but I 

 preferred it should be done by my method. 



One morning I was waked up by a tremendous noise, and, 

 looking out, saw that scorie had got through the fence, and 

 the whole fowls were on him. He was screaming for dear 

 life and me ; they were dancing upon him. Out I rushed in 

 dressing-gown and slippers, and managed to save him, but I 

 almost regretted having done so when I looked round to see a 

 score of bedroom windows in the vicinity with laughing faces 

 at them. 



After that Jacob and his numerous family sojourned into 

 Egypt, and scorie was left alone, until a hoodie-crow arrived 

 from Unst, who proved a lively and most entertaining com- 

 panion. The two became fast friends, though the crow used 

 to play off his jokes upon the gull, tweaking his tail and run- 

 ning after him. The favourite joke was to chase him until 

 scorie got impatient, and opening his mouth screamed, " Kya, 

 kya, kya ! " While the throat was distended by that angry 

 expostulation the crow would thrust his beak into it, choking 

 off the curses pouring therefrom, and disgusting scorie beyond 

 the power of speech to express. 



I wanted to plant a few flowers in the border, but the crow 



VOL. III. m 



