The Zoologist — September, 1874. 4131 



swallow its prey without previously soaking it, and curiously enough 

 only two days ago I had a proof of this. Three mice killed in a 

 trap were taken out to Peter; in his eagerness he seized the first 

 and gulped it down just as it was ; the second and third, however, 

 he not only wet before swallowing, but wet more thoroughly than 

 usual. This shows that in some way the deglutition of the dry 

 mouse was either difficult to accomplish or irritating to the gull's 

 throat. 



Space will not allow me to say much more about the habits and 

 peculiarities of this interesting bird ; but the following facts are 

 worthy of mention. By no means sociable, but rather inclined to 

 lead a solitary life, he has chosen a very strange companion — a 

 large retriever; the two are excellent friends, the dog permitting 

 the gull to lie down between his fore paws, pull his tail or his hair, 

 and even steal his dinner from his plate, a liberty that none of the 

 poultry dare take; Morris gives an instance of a similar friendship 

 between a gull and a terrier. Yarrell also mentions a gull that 

 made great friends with a pair of silver pheasants; but the most 

 interesting anecdote on this subject is the one already quoted from 

 the ' Naturalist.' 



Before concluding I may mention another peculiar fancy that 

 Peter has lately acquired — a fancy for sitting on anything raised 

 from the ground, such as a mound of earth or heap of stones ; 

 consequently a little pillar of bricks has been put up for him in 

 one corner of the yard where he is put at night; on it he takes his 

 rest every night, and there we will leave him. 



W. Sidney Randall. 



Handsworth Eectory, August 10, 1874. 



Ornithological Notes from North Devon. 

 By Gervase F. Mathew, Esq., R.N., F.L.S. 



May, 1874. 



Swift. — May 14. Observed numbers to-day, while traveUing 

 between Plymouth and Instow. 



Rohin.—Ma\ 14. Saw several young birds quite strong on the 

 wing, and evidently, from their appearance, at least a fortnight or 

 three weeks from the nest. It was quite a treat to see these familiar 

 and homely little birds after a long absence from England. 



