412 DR. NEILL'S BIRDS. [CHAP. xu. 



death impending over others. So we will leave their 

 grandmothers to give them a lecture which they can 

 do on the crime of mistaking Geese for Gulls. 



A Gullery may be made to contain other birds which 

 are not exactly contained in the same genus, but are 

 nearly allied in habits and disposition. Dr. Neill has 

 kindly favoured me with notes of a few that have lived 

 under his own eye : 



" The Solan Goose (Pelecanus Bassanus) I got from 

 the Bass when not fully fledged. It became quite tame, 

 and was allowed to frequent the Loch, and lived ten or 

 twelve years with me. It took three or four herrings 

 at a feed, but could subsist quite well on bullock's 

 liver. 



" The Fulmar (Procellaria glacialis) was brought me 

 by Mr. Allan, from the island of Stibbild, but it would 

 not tame, and survived only for one season. 



" The Coulterneb (Fratercula arctica) 1 repeatedly got 

 from the Bass ; but I could not keep it over winter. 



" The Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima) I had one 

 opportunity of trying; but I did not succeed, although 

 I know that others have been more fortunate." [The 

 Eider has bred and been reared at Knowsley.] 



" At present (February, 1849) I have several species 

 of Gulls, quite tame, including the Iceland Gull and the 

 Skua, which are rare. 



" The Icelandic Gull (Larus Islandicus) was caught 

 when in its first year on the coast of Uist, and was pre- 

 sented to me by Thomas Edmonstone, Esq. of Burness. 

 It has proved very tame and familiar, catching any food 

 thrown to it, and following for more. The wings are 

 very little longer than the tail, which is large and broad, 

 and very pure white. The whole plumage of the bird 



