. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE HERRING-GULL 297 The voice of this Gull is not melodious; and some persons call it harsh and strident. But opinions differ, even on as small a matter as the -voice of a Gull. I never yet heard the cry of a wild gull, either on the booming sea-shore, or over the silvery mirror of an inland lake, which was not music to my ears. In captivity the Gull is badly handicapped. With the primaries of one wing clipped to prevent escape, and without the power of flight, two enterpr
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. THE HERRING-GULL 297 The voice of this Gull is not melodious; and some persons call it harsh and strident. But opinions differ, even on as small a matter as the -voice of a Gull. I never yet heard the cry of a wild gull, either on the booming sea-shore, or over the silvery mirror of an inland lake, which was not music to my ears. In captivity the Gull is badly handicapped. With the primaries of one wing clipped to prevent escape, and without the power of flight, two enterprising Gulls decided to nest and rear a family. Accordingly they built a nest under a bush which stood on a point of the island, in a position that strategically was well chosen for purposes of defence. The two birds made a very wise division of the labor. The female built the nest, laid the eggs and hatched them, and the male did the screaming and fighting that was necessary to protect the family from THE HERRING-GULL (1, 2) AND COMMON TERN (3, 4). it is not seen at its best; for no Gull is perfect save in flight. Our flock is continuallly shriek- ing protests against unlawful detention, and with perfect wings every one would quickly fly away, as did those bred in the park and reared to adolescence with perfect wings. We tried to colonize them, but once away they never came back. In an enclosure which embraced a pond and an island inhabited by about twenty (Julls, twelve Canada geese, and a few other birds. Never was there a more bonnie fighter than that male bird. During that whole nesting- period, lasting from April 1 to May 15, he either bluffed or fought to a stand-still everything that came within ten feet of that nest. Before his defiant and terrifying screams, and his threatening beak and wings, no other Gull could stand for a moment. When a Canada goose crossed his dead-line, the Gull would rush at him, seize him by the nearest wing, wing- beat him, and ha
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