240 IN BIRD-LAND 



quite aware of, for they come in greater numbers 

 at the hour mentioned than at any other part of 

 the day. 



Numbers of boys and men take their dinner to 

 the Victoria Embankment, actually to share it with 

 the Gulls ; and the dexterous way in which these 

 catch any morsels thrown to them is worth noting. 

 When they fail to catch what is thrown, which 

 is not often, it will fall in the water, to be followed 

 by about six or seven Gulls, which will scream 

 while they struggle and strive to get the food. It 

 is even quite comical to see how they will reject 

 mere bread if anything they like better is to be 

 had. If they catch a piece which is tossed to them, 

 they will drop it from their beak on discovering its 

 quality ; but when pressed by hunger I have seen 

 them eat even bread with evident relish. Some of 

 the bolder Gulls will take food from a person's 

 hand. 



During the memorable and now historical 

 great frost of the early part of the year 1895, 

 thousands of sea-birds resorted to the Thames, 

 as seen from the City or Southwark shore, among 

 them being very many different species, several 

 quite uncommon birds also being seen. There 

 were great numbers of Black-headed Gulls among 

 the visitors, and feeding among these, opposite 



