A FOOLISH GULL When I threw out a crust the
other day, a gull came sailing down for it and found himself with an escort of jackdaws as he, returned to the roof with his prize. One jackdaw brought up the rear, hopping closer and closer to the gull, who did his best to keep the bread, maintain his slippery footing on the slates, and watch two more jackdaws, one on his right flank and one on his left. It alleproved quite hopeless and the 'daw on the left flank hopped in with great speed and made off with the bread. The foolish gull stood looking at the thieves as they hurried in triumph to the adjoining roof. At length he rose and went beating towards them. One of the 'daws croaked a warning and the bread was dropped. It may have been chance that it fell in a narrow place between two walls where the gull dared not venture, being unaccustomed to such closely con- fined scavenging. Shortly afterwards one of the 'daws retrieved the bread and this time it was dropped down a chimney. There was no mistaking the intention to frustrate the gull, for the jackdaw immediately followed it and left the gull standing on the ridge. The gull looked contemplative and finally rose, stretched his wings and sailed off.
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