244 Birds. 



success and contmued peace, more to his character of invention than 

 to his powers as a warrior. 



The Masked Gall, {Larus caplstratus). 



The brown-headed or masked gull is easily kept in confinement. 

 He was invited to change his diet, by having a few earth-worms 

 scattered over a basin of boiled potatoes : by these means he always 

 swallowed a small portion of vegetable food ; and in a few days he 

 devoured potatoes alone, with as much avidity as he did when they 

 were mixed with worms. When a large dry lump of potato was met 

 with, he never attempted to swallow it without first having recourse 

 to the following manoeuvre. He carried the unpalateable morsel in 

 his beak, with head erect, to a channel of water, dropped it in, and 

 having softened and reduced it to fragments, heartily enjoyed his po- 

 tato. Occasionally also he stole away with a choice piece to a private 

 corner, where he could eat his meal without being disturbed by his 

 hungry companions. When sufficiently domesticated he was turned 

 into a garden, where a friendship was quickly established between him 

 and an old favorite, the lesser black-backed gull. A little chastise- 

 ment from this tyrant taught him his proper place, and he soon found 

 the necessity of always being second to visit the meat and water dish. 

 In the evenings every flower-border was visited by both birds in quest 

 of worms ; and in these excursions the larger species always claimed 

 precedence. But notwithstanding this advantage, his success was ge- 

 nerally much inferior to that of his diminutive companion : for though 

 priority of search secured him all the large earth-worms which were 

 lying upon the surface, yet his greediness after the best prey caused him 

 to overlook all the small worms and snails, which rarely escaped the 

 quick-sighted skill of the masked gull. This feathered domestic was 

 destined to have a short reign, for unfortunately, one day he wandered 

 beyond his prescribed limits and was taken up by a boy, who, I af- 

 terwards learned, had kept him confined beneath a basket, where he 

 refused all sustenance, and very soon died. This accident put an end 

 to my observations on his change of plumage, for he was beginning 



