Birds, 243 



by some delicious parasite, it is not easy to determine, but the greater 

 part of the gulls mounted upon the backs of the astonished animals. 

 The specimen which I procured having got its feet entangled among 

 the wool, was injured by some means during an effort to rise. Dis- 

 abled for a moment, the bird fell to the ground, and was as quickly 

 picked up by a boy. The species was new to me ; its small size, short 

 tarsus and short slender beak, brought it under Temminck's Larus 

 capistratus, the brown-headed gull of Eyton. On our first acquain- 

 tance, I had an opportunity of introducing this feathered stranger to 

 a party of friends at the tea-table. His sociability was amusing. He 

 sat quietly upon a volume of Temminck's Ornithology, occasionally 

 enjoying a mouthful of warm dressed fish, and permitted his various 

 dimensions to be taken without much resistance. The bird, upon be- 

 ing turned into a poultry -yard, betrayed signs of shyness and timidity. 

 This exhibition of cowardice attracted the attention of the ordinary 

 inhabitants, who had already eyed him with suspicion ; and he was 

 destined, fi:om his first introduction, to be buffeted by every bantam 

 hen that he came near. After having endured this persecution for 

 some hours with considerable patience, he assumed a new and more 

 successful character. His energies being recruited by food, and his 

 spirits revived by a thorough washing and re-arrangement of his fea- 

 thers, he hit upon the following expedient to quell the insults of his 

 jealous opponents. On the approach of a combatant, he threw him- 

 self into the most hideous attitude of defence. The head and neck 

 were retracted between the uplifted pinions ; his beak was half-opened, 

 and the feathers of his whole body were erected ; giving him a most 

 metamorphosed appearance. I was amused at the first encounter 

 which took place after he had thus endeavoured to play the feathered 

 Mathews. A stout square-built bantam hen was his first opponent ; 

 and it was ridiculous to witness the impression made upon her cou- 

 rage by the hobgoblin which stood before her. The gull kept his 

 ground, and the bantam put on her most warlike aspect ; but all to no 

 purpose. Her arched and crested neck gradually dropped, until at 

 length her courage entirely failed, and she ran across the yard, now 

 and then looking behind, to be but the more convinced of the reality 

 of her alarm. This successful experiment added hourly to the confi- 

 dence and comfort of the gull : indeed his boldness increased so far 

 as to induce him once or twice to become absolutely pugnaceous. 

 From this time he was able to live in peace with his former insolent 

 antagonists, partaking daily of their food, and joining occasionally in 

 their roosting-pen : but still I am inclined to attribute his ultimate 



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