Mr. Scott, of Benholm, near Montrose, many years ago caught a sea-gull,
whose wings he cut, and put it into a walled garden, for the purpose of
destroying slugs, of which these birds are very fond. It throve
remarkably well in this situation, and remained about the place for
several years. The servants were much attached to this animal, and it
became so familiar that it came, at their call, to the kitchen door to
be fed, and answered to the name of Willie. At length it became so
domesticated, that no pains were taken to keep its wings cut; and
having at last acquired their full plume, it flew away, and joined the
other gulls on the beach, occasionally paying a visit to its old
quarters. At the time the gulls annually leave that part of the coast,
Willie also took his departure along with them, to the no small regret
of the family, who were much attached to him. Next season, however,
Willie again made his appearance, and visited the delighted family of
Mr. Scott with his wonted familiarity. They took care to feed him well,
to induce him, if possible, to become a permanent resident. But all
would not do, for he annually left Benholm. This practice he regularly
continued, for the extraordinary length of _forty years_, without
intermission, and seemed to have much pleasure in this friendly
intercourse. While he remained on that part of the coast, he usually
paid daily visits to his friends at Benholm, answered to his name, and
even fed out of their hands.
One year the gulls appeared on the coast, at their ordinary time; but
Willie did not, as was usual, pay his respects immediately on reaching
that neighborhood--from which they concluded that their favorite
visitant was numbered with the dead, which caused them much sorrow.
About ten days after, during breakfast, a servant entered the room
exclaiming that Willie had returned. The overjoyed family, one and all
of them, ran out to welcome Willie; an abundant supply of food was set
before him, and he partook of it with his former frankness, and was as
tame as a domestic fowl. In about two years afterwards, this bird
disappeared forever. The above facts are confirmatory of the great age
which the gull has been said to attain.