THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



aristocratic Western thoughtfully fills his pockets with 

 food for them. Birds readily respond to encouragement 

 of this kind. What impresses me most about these Gulls 

 in London is their extraordinary tameness. It is the 

 case of the Ring Doves over again. I have had much 

 experience with the Black-headed Gull during winter, 

 and have seen it congregate in thousands in various har- 

 bours, especially when sprats were being landed, yet 

 there was always a certain amount of wariness, shyness 

 that prevented the birds becoming very familiar. They 

 would no more have taken a proffered sprat from my 

 hand than they would even approach within arm's-length. 

 Yet the novel and charming sight could be witnessed 

 (and may now any winter) almost any day in London 

 of these birds seizing scraps of food from the fingers, 

 and exhibiting a tameness not excelled by the Sparrow 

 itself." 



These Gulls have now become such a recognised 

 feature in the bird-life of the Metropolis that fish is 

 regularly sold on the bridges for the passer-by to regale 

 them ; and so jealously are they regarded that even the 

 London policeman, with all his other onerous duties, 

 protects them from the mischievously inclined. I once 

 saw a youth on Westminster Bridge secure a Gull that 

 had trustfully perched on his arm, and was walking away 

 with his prize when a policeman pushed through the 

 crowd and sternly bade him release his captive. The 

 poacher was within his rights, but sentiment became 

 too strong, even for legality ! The Black-headed Gull 

 obtains, perhaps, as much of its food from the land as 

 from the sea. It searches the fields for worms, insects, 

 and larvae ; it captures small fish, crustaceans, and the 

 many kinds of small animals to be found upon the beach. 

 Not only so, but the bird may frequently be seen perched 

 in trees near its breeding-places. Its note is a shrill 

 krik or kur, modulated in many ways, especially during 

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