THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
aristocratic Western thoughtfully fills his pockets with 
food for them. Birds readily respond to encouragement 
of this kind. What impresses me mostabout these Gulls 
in London is their extraordinary tameness. It is the 
case of the Ring Doves over again. I have had much 
experience with the Black-headed Gull during winter, 
and have seen it congregate in thousands in various har- 
bours, especially when sprats were being landed, yet 
there was always a certain amount of wariness, shyness 
that prevented the birds becoming very familiar. ‘They 
would no more have taken a proffered sprat from my 
hand than they would even approach within arm’s-length. 
Yet the novel and charming sight could be witnessed 
(and may now any winter) almost any day in London 
of these birds seizing scraps of food from the fingers, 
and exhibiting a tameness not excelled by the Sparrow 
itself? 
These Gulls have now become such a recognised 
feature in the bird-life of the Metropolis that fish is 
regularly sold on the bridges for the passer-by to regale 
them ; and so jealously are they regarded that even the 
London policeman, with all his other onerous duties, 
protects them from the mischievously inclined. I once 
saw a youth on Westminster Bridge secure a Gull that 
had trustfully perched on his arm, and was walking away 
with his prize when a policeman pushed through the 
crowd and sternly bade him release his captive. ‘The 
poacher was within his rights, but sentiment became 
too strong, even for legality! ‘The Black-headed Gull 
obtains, perhaps, as much of its food from the land as 
from the sea. It searches the fields for worms, insects, 
and larve ; it captures small fish, crustaceans, and the 
many kinds of small animals to be found upon the beach. 
Not only so, but the bird may frequently be seen perched 
in trees near its breeding-places. Its note is a shrill 
krik or kur, modulated in many ways, especially during 
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