THE ICELAND GULL. 385 



brought up. In the third volume of Loudon's 'Magazine of 

 Natural History/ p. 155, a pleasing account of a tame bird of 

 this species will also be found. 



THE ICELAND GULL. 



Larus Islandictis, Edmonston (1822). 

 „ leiicopterus, Eaber (do.)"^ 



Is only known as a bird of extremely rare occurrence on 



the coast, 



But may, like the glaucous gull, be less rare than the very few 

 preserved specimens indicate. What is said of the latter species 

 relatively to L. marinus, equally applies to the L. Islandicus, 

 compared with the lesser black-backed gull. 



The Ordnance Museum contains an immature specimen, said 

 to have been procured at Lismore, county Donegal, in October 

 1839, and a young bird was obtained in Tralee Bay in the winter 

 of the same year (?).t An immature bird, which I purchased 

 in a fresh state, was shot on the 20th of January, 1843, on the 

 river Lagan, between the two bridges, close to the town of Belfast. 

 This bird, though " in full possession of all its faculties," was so 

 tame as to be within the reach of stones thrown by idle boys, 

 and kept its ground, unless when struck by them ; even then it 

 flew but a few yards and again alighted. A casual passer-by, 

 perceiving that the bird would be an easy prey, weut for a gun 

 and shot it. 



On the 25th of January, IS^O, one of these birds was seen by 

 Mr. E. Warren, jun., flying in company with some herring-gulls, 

 at Seamount, Cork harbour, and again on the 29th of the same 

 month, close to the quay at Cove. On the 2nd of February, two 



* Both tlicse names were published iii the same year, but I aiii not aware which 

 preceded the other. 



t Mr. R. Chute. 



VOL. III. 2 C 



