34 BRITAINS BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



prevail ; but in the neighbourhood of every large coastal 

 town shore-shooting is rampant. Here again the wounded 

 birds are usually left to their tardy fate. A broken 

 wing is the commonest injury, and the humane person 

 who rescues these birds will find them interesting, if not 

 veiy intelligent, garden pets. Their brains are not 

 of a high order, and true tameness they never seem to 

 acquire. Proper treatment will, however, soon produce the 

 familiarity that breeds contempt. But in this they show 

 much individuality. We have known one in captivity 

 for over eight years remain absurdly wild and suspicious, 

 while others in the same garden have in a few weeks 

 become bold and fearless, if hardly friendly. What 

 possible conclusion is there but that the particular 

 individual was mentally different from the rest ? 



THE COMMON QULL 



(Larus canus). 



Plate 11. 



Although to this misnamed bird belongs the right to 

 be considered as the typical Gull, it will be better for 

 our present purposes, as we have said, to give it a less 

 important place. On our coasts the preceding species is 

 undoubtedly the commonest Gull, while inland, especially 

 in Ireland, the Black-headed Gull holds the first place. 

 Although the so-called Common Gull is a familiar 

 enough bird on our coasts in winter, and is often 

 found inland, as a breeding bird it appears to be entirely 

 absent from England and Wales, and is only found 

 very locally in Ireland. In Scotland it is relatively 

 abundant, but still decidedly local. 



