THE COMMON GULL 25$ 



trainer to receive it, his education is considered far advanced, and 

 the trainer now endeavours to accustom him to the lure. This is 

 a piece of leather to which the wings and feet of a bird are attached 

 to make it resemble the falcon's prey. To this a piece of meat is 

 attached. The use is to recall the bird when it is allowed to fly 

 into the air. The lure, in order to make the bird thoroughly accus- 

 tomed to it, is made the means of conveying to it all its food. The 

 bird is also taught to obey the voice of the falconer, without which 

 precaution even the lure would be insufficient. When it has been 

 taught to obey the lure in a garden it is carried to the open field, 

 and being attached to a cord 60 or 70 ft. long, it is uncovered and 

 shown the lure at a little distance. If it flies to it it is fed. The 

 next day it is tried at a greater distance, and when it flies to the 

 lure at the full distance of the cord it is considered fully tried. It 

 is then practically in the mode of seizing its game, which is done 

 with tame game attached to a peg. It is then made to fly at free 

 game whose eyes have been bound, and when it is fully trained 

 it is used for sport. It is always kept hooded during excursions, 

 until it is wanted to fly " (The Popular Encyclopedia, half- vol. V., 

 p. 301). 



COMMON GULL (Lams canus). The gull has a voracious appetite, 

 and is easily tamed. For keeping in captivity it must be procured 

 young, have one wing pinioned, or the feathers of one wing short- 

 ened. Pinioning signifies captivity, or flight lost for life ; clipping 

 implies temporary or for the time ineffective means for flying, 

 for when the feathers are allowed to grow, the captive may return 

 to the seacoast, where both wings intact are essential for ensuring 

 safety and procuring needful food. 



The gull may be kept either solitary or in company. When two 

 gulls are together the weaker generally becomes the victim of the 

 ill-nature of the stronger, and in feeding they display naturally 

 quarrelsome and voracious habits ; hence in supplying food this 

 must be so placed that each bird may receive a fair share. The 

 refuse of the scullery fragments of raw or cooked meat, fish and 

 vegetable substances^ should be given at least once a day, pre- 

 ferably in the morning, a vessel being at hand for holding water 

 and replenished as required. 



In spring, summer and autumn the gull does well on a lawn, 

 but during winter it must be accorded the shelter of an outhouse 

 in severe weather, supplying food regularly twice a day. If any 

 mice come within sight and reach, they quickly disappear down 

 the gull's throat ; it being a " sight " to watch a gull appropriate 

 mice caught in traps, whether dead or alive, as each mouse passes 

 out of sight head foremost. 



W 7 e have kept gulls on lawns and in pleasure grounds for many 

 years, food and water being supplied beneath or near a sheltering 

 low tree, such as a standard thorn, and without injury to either 



