PEACTICAL JOKE. 271 



certain practical joke on the gulls wliicli are 

 always hovering about the ships. The trick is 

 this : you take three or four pieces of sail- 

 twine, of a fathom or so in length, tie them all 

 together in the middle, and to the end of each 

 tightly attach a small piece of blubber, then 

 throw the whole into the sea ; a gull comes 

 and swallows one piece; another then sees 

 there is plenty to spare, and swallows the 

 next ; perhaps a third gull takes possession of 

 another, but as they are all attached to one 

 another by the sail-yarns, whenever they try 

 to fly away, one party or another is perforce 

 compelled to disgorge his share ; and this is 

 continued at the expense of the poor gulls 

 alternately, to the great amusement of the 

 sailors. 



It seems to me that an attentive study of 

 the Arctic Fciuna is capable of throwing great 

 light upon some debated questions in Natural 

 History. 



I am aware that I am now treading upon very 

 dangerous ground, and that what I say will be 

 severely criticised ; but I will " take a header " 

 into the deep Avaters of controversy at once, 

 and unhesitatingly avow my belief that an 

 attentive study of the Arctic animals is capable 



