260 



Homing Instincts of the Gull. By Mrs Wood, 

 Galashiels. 



The following remarkable instance of the "homing" 

 instinct in a gull, is, I think, not unworthy of preservation 

 in the pages of the Club's Proceedings. 



About twelve years ago a sea gull — -Larus canus — was 

 sent from the Cove, Cockburnspath, to take up its abode 

 in the manse garden at Coldingham. As it was quite a 

 young bird, clothed only with downy grey feathers, a 

 small wooden house was made for its protection, but of 

 this shelter it always refused to avail itself. Its wings 

 were clipped, and the bird, as time went by, became quite 

 used to its solitary life. It ate its daily meal with relish, 

 grabbed all the worms and slugs it could find, treated itself 

 occasionally to the tender heart of a cauliflower, or to a 

 young cabbage, and went its rounds with the stolid indiffer- 

 ence of an old captive. One day, however, in September 

 1897, the gull disappeared, and though careful search was 

 made, to the regret of its owners it was nowhere to be 

 found, nor was the smallest hope for a moment entertained 

 of the probable return of their favourite. Nevertheless, to 

 the astonishment of everyone, the bird suddenly came back 

 in July 1898, after an absence of fully 10 months. It looked 

 much as when it went away, only not so clean and white, 

 and at once took up all its former habits ; poking into 

 its old holes, using its old runs, and apparently quite at 

 home in the manse garden. Three or four gulls, which 

 it was thought had accompanied it thus far, remained 

 hovering over the burn near the manse, but, tiring of 

 waiting for their companion, left in a few days, and were 

 seen no more. 



I may add that the gull in this year of 1900 is still 

 inhabitiug its old quarters. 



