46 2V A TURK'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



gulls, of many species, flying near ; not scared 

 aloft, but circling around and below, even within 

 a yard of him, and all for the sake of a morsel or 

 two of cheap fish thrown to them. There is 

 nothing in Nature more lovely than the exhibi- 

 tion of their great wing-power when they come 

 swinging along, with sleek, wide pinions pulsat- 

 ing evenly, stainless, symmetrical, harmoniously 

 coloured. You can read the hope in their eyes 

 when approaching, and detect the triumph with 

 which they bear off some fragment deftly seized 

 in mid-air. When will the village green have 

 learned the true secret of beauty in the city park ? 

 And when will the country brand as a criminal 

 the villain who goes to the seaside for the " shore- 

 shooting " of harmless nay, beneficent and lovely 

 seabirds ? Perhaps, in the good time coming, some 

 very exalted personage will by word or sign set a 

 fashion that will convince people of the detestable- 

 ness of wantonly killing beautiful animals. And 

 perhaps civilised woman will one day abandon the 

 use of the savage's headgear ? 



At this season no miser can ask for a cheaper 

 entertainment, nor physician for one more health- 



