268 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



his life before as he then did, to escape. Ever since 

 he has kept at a most respectful distance, and, when- 

 ever he is obliged to pass by the Gull, his walk 

 quickens to a trot, and the trot to a gallop, as if 

 his ribs still smarted with the sharp digs he had 

 received. 



In the garden this Gull is very useful, feeding 

 upon snails, worms, and beetles, and I have several 

 times seen him running like a Wagtail in pursuit 

 of flies and moths. 



He is now so tame that he comes up to the house 

 to be fed, and will take a Sparrow from my hand. 

 When he feels hungry he usually makes his presence 

 known by a loud trumpeting or braying, which often 

 has the desired effect ; but occasionally, when I have 

 passed him without taking any notice, I have received 

 a reminder in the shape of a sharp pinch in the calf 

 of the leg. 



As soon as the wounded wing got well, he used 

 to take long flights in the neighbourhood, but 

 always returned to be fed. At length, for fear that 

 he might get shot, I was compelled to cut one wing 

 to keep him at home, and here he still lives a useful 

 and ornamental under-gardener.* 



* I regret to say that, since these notes were written, 

 this amusing bird is dead. He was discovered one morning 

 in the small fish-pond, where he took his daily swim, cold and 

 stiff. A post-mortem examination failed to reveal the cause 



