SIDE LIGHTS ON BIRDS 



In these two cases the birds were shot from 

 flocks, and there is no reason to suppose they were 

 mated. 



A writer in the " Scotsman" some years ago 

 gave another instance. * ' On the upper reaches of 

 the river Annan," he wrote, " I was standing one 

 afternoon on a bridge, watching the movements 

 of a group of gulls floating downstream clustered 

 together in a bunch. Closer examination showed 

 that they were busily engaged assisting a wounded 

 comrade which had met with some accident and 

 was sitting low in the water. Progress was slow, 

 but never once did the band of good Samaritans 

 cease their efforts. Eventually the group of 

 gulls turned at right angles and made for terra 

 firma. On reaching the shallows the injured 

 bird dragged itself on to the bank. Then I 

 noticed that one of its wings had been badly 

 hurt. Perched on a fence close to the waters 

 edge were a couple of crows evidently waiting for 

 a chance to attack the gull. Their patience 

 was rewarded as a minute or two later an unusual 

 noise caused the body guard to take to flight. 

 lyike a flash the crows swooped down on the 

 wounded bird and with a few powerful strokes 

 from their axe-like beaks finished the career of 

 the gull. Immediately the dastardly work was 

 over the black murderers cleared off. A little 

 later the victim's friends returned, but on finding 

 their comrade dead, flew off, uttering loud 

 screeches. 



Certainly in the case of both gulls and terns 

 the fidelity is exhibited by the whole community, 

 and sexual ties are not involved. 



The ages at which wild birds usually mate are 

 not easy to determine. As a general rule it may 

 be said that the smaller races — the finches and 

 warblers — nest in the first spring after they are 



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