CHAP. xn.J DISCIPLINE OF NEW PUPILS. 403 



than adult completeness, any Gulls that one has the 

 honour of becoming acquainted with in South British 

 sea-side excursions. How these venerable gentlemen 

 and ladies would behave if caught and deprived of flight, 

 we cannot say ; as they are seldom to be got at without 

 first sending a rifle-ball through them, and not always 

 then. But the young birds of the year, which are so 

 easily to be had along our coasts from the time of the 

 herring fishery till a little after Christmas, show a most 

 cheerful and praiseworthy mode of encountering what 

 can't be cured. Their discipline with us has been this. 

 They come home packed in a hamper and half-starved. 

 When taken out, they try hard to bite the fingers of 

 whoever has the first handling of them, and would give 

 a sharp gripe, if allowed. This is avoided by grasping 

 them round the neck just at the back of the head. But 

 this alone will not save the operator, as their claws are 

 made for scratching as well as for swimming and running, 

 and so they must be secured below as well as above. 

 Some one else then takes the wing, and amputates all 

 beyond the elbow joint, if it is wished really to prevent 

 the bird from flying away. It is then put under a hen- 

 coop, to collect its thoughts. By-and-by pieces of fish 

 are given it : it will not look at them. Next morning, 

 however, some have disappeared. A pan of water is 

 introduced into the coop, and thankfully accepted, 

 both for drinking and washing. Do Gulls drink 

 salt water when they are out at sea for weeks and 

 weeks together ? In confinement they drink fresh water 

 plentifully and with enjoyment. Then, when the slave- 

 owner's back is turned, the other pieces of fish vanish. 

 Gully will do : he may wait an hour or two, or half a 

 day. He is now hungry. Some bits of fish are thrown 



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