LEARNING TO LIVE 193 



Saturday, but partook of liver freely; and similarly with 

 many other food-stuffs. 



As to quickness of learning, the observation was made 

 in regard to two young birds taken from the nest, who were 

 having their first experience of food in a saucer, that the 

 elder, after having some food given to it, proceeded to 

 peck of itself, while the younger, who would at first peck 

 only at the bill of its senior, began within five minutes to 

 peck also out of the saucer. 



As to words, the basis of experience was not sufficiently 

 wide to bear secure conclusions, but there seemed to be 

 at least four words, (a) There is the peep-peep uttered 

 before birth, and also long afterwards when the birds are 

 not quite comfortable. Sometimes in those artificially 

 reared it would not be heard for fifteen minutes or more. 

 It means cold, hunger, or some discomfort, (b) Secondly, 

 there is a deeper, more adult-like quack of two syllables, 

 uttered in excitement in the presence of food, (c) Thirdly, 

 there is a short alarm cry, uttered when the bird is suddenly 

 disturbed, (b) Fourthly, when the young bird appears to 

 be contented and very comfortable, it utters a plaintive, 

 almost sigh-like cheep. 



One thing the gulls seemed to have to learn in their 

 artificial environment was to recognise water to drink, 

 but this may have been partly due to the fact that it was 

 presented to them in a very unnatural way in saucers, 

 glass vessels, and shallow baths. Although thirsty, and 

 willing to take a drop from the end of a wet finger, they 

 would walk round, or even at first through, a saucer with- 

 out using their opportunity. Like Lloyd Morgan's chicks, 

 they drank when they got their bills wet by happening to 

 peck while standing in water, and they also drank when 

 thrown into water. Only after ten days' education did 

 one go straight to a dish of water placed on the floor and 

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