284 



THE HERKING GULL. 



appearance in numbers in the inland parts is considered 

 to be an indication of the approach of tempestuous weather, 

 as mentioned by Grahame in his British Georgics : 



No sign of gathering storm, both wind and rain, 

 Is surer than the sea-fowl's inland flight. 



Sir David Lindsay, in his Gomplaynt of Scotland, also 

 alludes to this Gull foretelling stormy weather, for he says : 

 " The Swannis murnit because the gray goul mau pronosticat 

 ane storme." 



The Herring Gull is sometimes kept as a pet in gardens, 

 and Mr. Hardy relates that " one which belonged to Mr. 

 William Calder, Gunsgreen, used to go down to the water 

 Eye to wash itself and then returned. A boy in Ayton 

 kept one for a long time, and it used to fly daily to the Eye 

 to wash itself, returning on buoyant wing to the heart of 

 the village. Boys about Oldcambus sometimes catch Gulls 

 by placing a worm on a fishing-hook with a long string 

 attached to the hook." 





