Brewster.] 400 [Octobers, 



that the same practice obtains with other oceanic birds, many of 

 which doubtless drink sea water freely ; while some, like the Kit- 

 tiwake, may even perish of thirst if separated from it for any 

 length of time. 



To return to our pet. He grew apace, and at the end of 

 the fourth week was able to fly ; but although he was occasion- 

 ally thrown overboard for a swim, he showed no disposition 

 to leave us. His manners from the first were singularly af- 

 fectionate and confiding, and he never objected to being handled, 

 but, on the contrary, received all caresses with a gentle playful- 

 ness that quickly won the heart of everyone. After the return 

 of the " Arethusa," he was allowed full liberty at Annisquam, 

 but although he made daily flights down the harbor, he invariably 

 returned to the vessel at sunset and spent the night in the pail in 

 which he had been reared. I last saw him about the 25th of 

 August. When I reached the shore he was sitting on the water 

 several hundred yards away, but in response to a familiar call he 

 rose and flew directly to me alighting near at hand and allowing 

 me to take him up with every appearance of satisfaction. In 

 his fresh fall plumage he was a beautiful bird, and his gentle 

 ways were inexpressibly winning. A week or two later he failed 

 to return from one cf his trips down the harbor. Perhaps he 

 wandered out to sea ; more likely some idle gunner made him an 

 easy victim. At all events he was never seen again by any of his 

 really devoted friends. 1 



1 I am indebted to Professor Hyatt for the following interesting notes on this Gull 

 made during the return voyage, after I had left the " Arethusa " : — 



" The Kittiwake after a long probation in trying his wings, at last several times in 

 calm weather flew as high as the after rail (about a foot) and lighted upon it, but made 

 no effort to go overboard. Finally on a calm day off the Gut of Canso the bird was placed 

 in the water for a swim, but he showed great terror, swimming close to the boat we 

 had lowered, and was so evidently anxious to be taken in again that he was kept out a 

 very short time. He did not seem to become accustomed to the water until he had 

 reached Annisquam and had acquired considerable powers of flight; preferring evi- 

 dently his bath in a bucket. He appeared to be terrified, also, when first bathed in a 

 bucket; but when placed in a basin, where he could stand with his feet on the bottom, 

 took evident pleasure in bathing. After he became more accustomed to the water, the 

 bucket was again brought into use, and then it was successful. The wide expanse of 

 the sea, or the absence of a foothold, seemed to inspire him with terror. He made no 

 efforts towards prolonged flights until one day after our return to Annisquam I took 

 him to the door and threw him gently from an elevation of about ten feet. Instead of 

 flying slowly to the ground, as I had anticipated, the bird sailed off a hundred feet at 



