The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-04
Gulls and Snipe.

Last summer when roaming about the
beach on the northern side of Long Island
i discovered u gull's nest with two young,
downy little ones, and one egg. The
chicks were Just able tn cry little and
open their big red mouths for food. and
were la the down. and spotted with brown
spots precisely like the color Of the egg.
took tho entire party home, determined
To ascertain what could concerning their
food and habits. Having no means OF
Matching the egg artidcially. put it in
among some little chickens that had lost
their mother. that occupied small pad
ded coop. Next day IL was placed in the
sun. and TO my surprise and qualification
hatchcd. This gave mo three lively.
healthy gulls, and ut about the same time
i captured q wing-broken, yellow-leg
snipe, which was not injured otherwise,
and which appeared. by tho brightness OF
his eye, to be in good health generally.
kept my strange pets in box half filled
with sand. and commenced feeding them
TN clans. They both soon come TO know
me; even the snipc. bird that Is usually
regarded rs shy. and the gulls would
clamor 10 he fed whenever any person
would pass their nest. They seemed to
eat the clans readily. bat before long 1t
was plain that an exclusive diet of this
character was not the proper food. Two
of the gulls finally died and the other be-
gan to droop. Upto that time had no
way Of catching minnows, but having So
cured :he assistance of some small boys,
I at last obtained supply of what are
known ON Long Island rs mummies.
These NV pets devourei with voracity,
the gull taking in one rs long rs his head
and the yellow-leg spearinS them with his
long hill with wonderful accuracy when 8
pau of the live killcys WAS placed in hi
box. II WAS curious to see the certainty
with which no seized his prey ut each
thrust. and to observe how he cnde,
the fish round In his slender bill SO ths
he couli swallow il head foremost. II
soon became manifest that minnows wer,
the natura. food Of both these birds. Tn,
snipe throve well. aud the gull not only
recovered his health. but grew rapidly
There has always been much doubt and
speculation rs To the nature Of the food o
the shore birds. Their long bills seemed
adapted to boring in soft mud; they af
fected the meadows and oozy spots, and
there were manifest evidences that some
Of them obtained q portion of their food
ut least in that way. have seen ox-eye,
ihrusting their little bills into the mud oi
some bare bank. accompanying the action
with flutter Of their wings; but, nj
though I have noticed the larger bird,
searching among the gravel and sand on
the bars. ] never was satisfied that they
bored for food. IL now seems TO me clear
that all the varieties, especially the larger
ones, feed mainly on small fish. and seek
the sand-bars for gravel To assist digestion,
rs Is the habit with other fowls. Contine-
ment, however. did not agree with the
yellow.leg. or his wound injured him, and
he died without any apparent cause. The
gull lived and grew more voracious daily
he has devourcd, at one meal. sixty-two
killeys. u bulk Of food nearly rs large rs his
body. and seems ready 10 eat on all occa-
sions. He has become very tame. and
although he can now fy. he does not leave
the place, but will come when he is called
Ho struts about the piazza, following any
ono he knows, In the most con,ical way,
his red legs and small feet seeming IN
adapted to pedestrian exercise. lie will
fly up ON the trees on soar about in the air
and uttcrs all the expressive cries of the
wild birds, but rs yet he has shown nc
inclination To desert his comfortable quar-
ters or leave his devoted friends. II a
,,ll alarmed. as BY the approach Of child
of whose intentions there may naturally
be some doubt, he puts up his shoulder
and lowers his head. and utters low muir
murs in depr~catory way; bnt ordinaril,
he is hail fellow well met with every hu
man being. although Of course he has hi
fayorites. Ills flight Is exceedingly cas-
and graceful when he is soaring in the air
diving into the creek which runs past m.
door. and from which he now draws 4
large part Of his provcndcr, or whe
skimrning the earth, preparatory TO aligh'
ing. or when he rises When he Is flying
all tha, |. necessary to do Is 10 call ''Gull,
gully. gully" and he will come instanil
and either, drop st the speakers feet.
perch on the house. barn. or piazza roo
and squawk conversational frieadlinc'
with vehemence and enihusiasm.-Se'
York Caisea.
4 ~. k.uss N