3i8 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



had turned out of house and home, worms, grubs, 

 and beetles, also cantankerous wire-worm, resting on 

 the green turf of the marshes close to some shallow 

 pools where they had washed their bills and feet. 



If let alone this bird will throw off much of the 

 extreme caution peculiar to this family. In fact, we 

 have been able to get closer to them than we could 

 to the Rooks. 



They are harmless creatures, always on the look- 

 out for unconsidered trifles. In the fishing season 

 they gather with the others. When fields are 

 manured with fish, then is the time to see them 

 gather, if the heaps have not been scattered and 

 ploughed in. Should the weather not be favourable 

 to do this, two or three cartloads of fish soon go. 

 But the good they do in and about the fields must 

 be set against this. 



Pickmire, Sea - Crow, Black - Cap, Mire - Crow, 

 Laughing Gull, Black - headed Gull, Red - legged 

 Gull, and Pewit Gull, are the names that the Brown- 

 hooded Gull is known by. Although this Gull is 

 as a rule called the Black-headed, the title is not 

 a right one ; Brown-hooded, or headed, would be 

 correct. 



The local title, that of Pewit Gull, is very ap- 

 propriate, for the bird is found frequenting meres 

 and marshes. With the exception of that uncommon 

 ■visitor, the Iceland Gull, these Gulls that I have 

 lightly touched on will be found more or less in 

 suitable localities by all those that fowl on or by 

 the tide. 



