Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/271

Rh 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. Disabled 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 acquaintance, 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 being 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, from 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 feathers, he hit upon the following expedient to quell the insults of his jealous opponents. On the approach of a combatant, he threw himself 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 courage 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 confidence 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