THE UNSQUEAMISH BIRD 



IN their natural healthy state birds are, almost 

 without exception, dainty creatures, but daintiness 

 does not always or often characterize their actions. 

 Indeed, one who walks abroad in winter days, and 

 watches the feathered people, is struck above 

 all things by their absolute superiority to that 

 characteristic human trait squeamishness. They 

 have no objection to dirt, even when it is rank 

 and smells high, and they approach putrescence 

 with the serenity of an analytical chemist. 



These remarks were suggested by contemplation 

 of a bird assembly on a stubble-field. The field 

 comprised the brow of a low ridge, and the slope 

 of it extending down to a public road. Ranged 

 on the brow was an immense host of black -headed 

 gulls, a majority of them in immature plumage. 

 They appeared to have " done themselves well," 

 and were reposing, every one with his head thrown 

 well into its shoulders, and its beak extended to 

 the prevailing wind. Close by the gulls that is 

 to say, well away from the road was a con- 

 siderable company of rooks, all hard at work 

 and the nearer part was "crawling" with starlings, 

 certainly thousands strong. Searching the surface 

 carefully one soon found that besides these con- 



