274 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



out a piece of bread, and a troop of starlings 

 rushed to it, and one of the gulls dropped down 

 and took possession of it, but had scarcely began 

 tearing at It when two more gulls dropped down 

 and the first bird, lifting his wings began scream- 

 ing ''Hands off !'* at the others, and the others, 

 also raising their wings, screamed their walling 

 screams in reply. The young cow, attracted by 

 the noise, gazed at them for a few moments, then 

 all at once putting her head down furiously 

 charged them. The three gulls rose up simul- 

 taneously and floated over her and then away, 

 leaving her standing on the spot, shaking her head 

 in anger and disgust at their escape. A rhinoceros 

 charging a ball of thistledown or a soap-bubble, 

 and causing it to float aw^ay with the wind it 

 created, would not have been a more ludicrous 

 spectacle. 



