THE SEAGULL 



when, in the first October gale, not only did 

 the visitor return, tapping at the dining-room 

 window for admission, as it had always done, 

 but actually brought with it a young gull, 

 and the two paid him a visit every autumn 

 for a number of years. 



On either side of the gulls, and closely asso- 

 ciated with them in habits and in structure, 

 is a group of birds equally characteristic of 

 the open coast, the skuas and terns. The skuas, 

 darker and more courageous birds, are fami- 

 liar to those who spend their August holiday 

 sea-fishing near the Land's End, where, 

 particularly on days when the east wind 

 brings the gannets and porpoises close inshore, 

 the great skua may be seen at its favourite 

 game of swooping on the gulls and making 

 them disgorge or drop their launce or pilchard, 

 which the bird usually retrieves before it 

 reaches the water. This act of piracy has 

 earned for the skua its West Country sobri- 

 quet of " Jack Harry," and against so fierce 

 an onslaught even the largest gull, though 

 actually of heavier build than its tyrant, has 

 no chance and seldom indeed seems to offer 

 the feeblest resistance. These skuas rob their 

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