in Captivity 159 



intervening waters the mellow notes of a cuckoo. 

 Once more I visit the nests of the great black-back 

 gulls, which are sailing overhead, uttering hoarse but 

 pleasing cries, for their calls fit in perfectly with the 

 whole scene. 



In one of the nests the young ones are hatched, 

 and one tiny fellow is not yet dry ; so recently has 

 he come into the world. 



And so my basket contains three more baby gulls. 

 As soon as I have them at home they lose all fear 

 when out of reach of the warning cries of the old birds, 

 and devour small pieces of mackerel greedily. 



They have spacious maws for their size ; and they 

 grow apace. 



Besides them I have two young cormorants, and a 

 couple of baby "puffs." 



But the little black " puffs," although they thrive 

 for about a week, collapse ; which is sad. 



Oyster-catchers, if you can get them on the shore 

 when they are half grown, but still unable to fly, are 

 quite easy to rear up on worms and small pieces of 

 meat or fish, and look extremely pretty on a lawn, 

 as they trip along, piping, and prodding for worms. 



In a mild winter, where they have plenty of space, 

 they will manage to feed themselves entirely, and keep 

 in good health. 



They like a large shallow dish to bathe and paddle 

 in, unless there is a stream in the garden, where they 

 can run into the water where not too deep. 



It is interesting to watch the change of plumage 

 in the gulls. 



