158 BIKDS 



Doubtless he became a dinner, and we can only console 

 ourselves with the conviction that he was tough. 



MURIEL KENNY. 



July 13, 1918. 



NOTE. And with the hope that he gave the diners 

 dyspepsia ever afterwards. 



A SUPER-GULL 



A few weeks ago a strange thing happened to me on 

 the Oddicombe Beach in this neighbourhod that might 

 perhaps be of some interst to your readers should you 

 think it worthy of a place in the Spectator. Being fond 

 of the animal creation, I have always found it easy to 

 make friends with many kinds of wild creatures, birds 

 or beasts, and have often been amazed at the memory 

 and intelligence they show after a few friendly interviews. 

 For some time now two or three of the gulls that fre- 

 quent the coast here have been very constant in their 

 attentions, and it is of one of them especially that I 

 would now tell. Very often of late this bird (Joey by 

 name) has evidently been on the look-out for me, as one 

 who provides little bits of bun or cake for his delight, 

 and has flown down from the cliffs to greet me, almost 

 brushing my shoulders with his wings, and settling down 

 by my side on the grass or rocks. On Saturday, April 25, 

 I passed over Petitor to the Oddicombe Beach, but saw 

 no sign of my friend until, just as I reached the stones, 

 the gull came with a great rush from half-way up the cliff 

 down to my very feet. I sat down at once on the shingle, 

 with Joey by my side, and gave him a few bits of cake. 

 Presently he began " pottering about " the bank of 

 shingle near, and then, returning to me, began pulling 

 my coat with his beak. ' What's the matter, Joey?" 

 said I ; " what do you want?" and I offered him another 

 bit of cake, of which he took no notice, but walked a foot 



