THE NATURALISTS OF LAKELAND XXXV11 



A tug ensued ; one of the combatants exerting his muscular 

 thigh and foot, the other relying upon the grasp of his bill 

 and the strength of his neck. But the Buzzard was always 

 victorious. Had it been a mere trial of strength, I think the 

 Gull would have been successful. But a severe grasp on the 

 back of his head from the Buzzard's spare foot compelled him 

 to let go his hold. " Gulliver " was never but once completely 

 beaten by any bird in open combat. A female Eed-headed 

 Goosander was his opponent, he as usual being the assaulter : 

 but her tact was too much for him. Like a modern lancer she 

 went full speed with neck and bill nearly horizontal, and catch- 

 ing his side under the wing, threw him over on his back. 

 They had but two encounters ; and our old friend fared so ill 

 in both, that had not this amazon made her escape in the night, 

 we should have been concerned about his future peace and 

 safety.' 



It will be seen from this playful note on the Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull, that Dr. Gough united to his taste for scientific 

 research much sympathy with the character traits of animals. 

 Once indeed, when recovering from a severe illness, Dr. Gough 

 employed himself in writing a charming pamphlet, entitled 

 Personal Reminiscences of the Habits of Animals, regarding which 

 he wrote to his friend Professor Sedgwick in the following 

 terms : — 



'My dear Professor Sedgwick, — I venture after a long 

 silence to trouble you once more with a letter. The accom- 

 panying pamphlet is partly an apology for this intrusion. 

 During the past spring I had a severe attack of rheumatism, 

 which made me reluctantly bid adieu to my profession. The 

 attack left me with partial loss of power in the left arm and 

 shoulder, and the pain and sleepless nights also entailed upon 

 me a shattered condition of brain. . . . During a tedious re- 

 covery, it was necessary for me to have some other employment 

 in addition to reading. I set to work and strung together 

 a few sketches of the habits of animals, especially those which 

 had been among my pets in former years. The publication 

 now sent contains these reminiscences. And as the little 

 book is j dedicated to the younger members of our Nat. Hist. 



