25 



III. 



ON BIRDS. 



Mr DEAK FKIENDS, 



I have given you two lectures on foreign fish; 

 and, as they appeared to amuse you, I will now 

 read you one on birds, because, except gulls and 

 a few marine birds, you are not very likely, from 

 your occupation as fishermen, to know much of 

 their habits and peculiar instincts. These are 

 well worth your attention, and I hope that what 

 I shall have to say on this subject may both in- 

 struct and amuse you. But, before I proceed 

 further, I wish to say a word respecting the gulls 

 which dip and flit and fly about these shores, in 

 a way which every lover of nature, and every 

 visitor to this town, must always admire. Now 

 I ask of you, as a little return for the trouble I 

 have taken in writing these lectures for you, to 

 protect these interesting birds as far as you are 



