172 

ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 11-No. 11 



XI, p. 142,) was “faint bluish-white,” and “un- 
marked.” This fact was written down at the 
time by Mr. G. H. Carpenter, and is found among 
his notes. This egg could not be preserved as it 
broken by the shot. The remaining egg (which 
was preserved) is the one described on p. 142, 
Vol. X of this magazine. This variation between 
the two eggs, which undoubtedly would have 
formed one set had the bird had time to lay the 
second one, adds weight to Mr. Singley’s theory 
as to the marked egg being a variation of the true 
type of those of Letinia subcerulea.—J. P. N.] 

The Western Gull in Captivity. 
BY HARRY R. TAYLOR, ALAMEDA, CAL. 
I wish to give an account of two odd pets 
which I secured on a recent collecting trip to the 
Farallone Islands, twenty-three miles from San 
Francisco Bay. They are two young Western 
Gulls (Larus occidentalis), now (August 9, 1886,) 
only about six weeks old, and the most comical- 
ly interesting of all the pet birds or animals I ever 
owned. I secured them when quite young, and 
their growth since then has been something ex- 
traordinary. They are quite tame, and they run 
up to me when I approach them, in a really dan- 
gerous looking manner, with their great hungry- 
looking mouths stretched wide open; but their 
intentions are harmless; they are only hungry, 
and until I can satisfy their voracious appetites 
they continue to upbraid me unceasingly, with 
loud squawking cries which prove very appalling 
to all the other fowl in the yard. The cormorant 
has a wide-spread reputation for enormous vo- 
racity, but after watching these two young gulls 
devour piece after piece of raw beef with an ap- 
petite almost insatiable, I have arrived at the 
conclusion that for immensity of capacity and 
appetite the cormorant has a powerful rival in 
the gull. The natural food of these young gulls 
is small fish, which the pareits carry to the nest, 
but in confinement I am told they will live on al- 
most anything which is given to them. I have 
pampered the taste of the two birds in my posses- 
sion, however, until they enjoy nothing but raw 
fresh meat. Their alimentary canal seems proof 
against almost anything, for one of them the 
other day, swallowed a large piece of cup handle 
which lay in the yard, with no apparent incon- 
venience. They seem quite fond of fresh water, 
ancl when they have swallowed all the meat possi- 
ble, they want a pan of water immediately, and 
dip their big bills into the sand in a very 
amusing way to show that they are thirsty and 
ant the water at once. 

I have no large place for them to swim in, but 
they delight to stand and wash themselves in a 
large pan filled with fresh water. The birds are 
very quick to catch pieces of meat thrown them, no 
matter what the distance may be, and fight over 
any piece which chances to fall to the ground. I 
notice that they begin to exercise their wings 
very much of late, performing a sort of flying 
dance around among the astonished hens, rising 
about three feet above the ground, and as I have 
seen them holding animated conferences they may 
be n@ditating escape. I shall have to clip their 
long wings so as to avoid the possibility of their 
sudden flight to join their friends and relatives on 
the Farallones. 
The gull is a very intelligent bird and knows 
his friends and his enemies well. When I first 
placed this pair among the chickens they were 
the pitiful victims of a great deal of abuse from 
all the old hens of thie poultry yard, who took 
advantage of their tender age and unprotected 
condition to abuse them terribly; but now the 
tables are turned, and woe betide the imprudent 
hen which dares to come near these haughty 
young natives of the Pacific Ocean. 
I hope to keep the two birds to observe the 
change of plumage as they approach the age of 
the adult, in which case I seriously think it ad- 
visable that I purchase a meat shop—just for the 
sake of economy ! 
edna Lives 
The Swallows Have Come. 
WRITTEN FOR THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. 
The swallows have come aud spring is here, 
No more the winds blow cold and drear; 
We see the graceful forms of light 
Glance through the fields and gardens bright. 
Welcome, spring and birds and flowers, 
Welcome, fitful, freshening showers, 
Welcome, coming happy hours; 
Oh joy, the swallows have come. 
The swallows have come, again we see 
The dainty migrants wild and free, 
Fresh from the sunny, southern clime 
They come to pass the summer time. 
Welcome, busy creatures, fair, 
Welcome, perfumed balmy air, 
Welcome, my rustic garden chair ; 
The swallows, the swallows have come. 
Around the barn and eaves they fly, 
Or skim the pool and cleave the sky ; 
With twitterings of love and peace, 
Their mates in sweeping curves they chase. 
Welcome, are your notes to me, 
Welcome, your gambols wild and free, 
Welcome, your gay society. 
Welcome when’ere you come. 
MoRRIS GIBBS. 
