EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 107 



similar positions, but on smaller trees. Richardson found this 

 bird breeding in colonies in similar situations, some trees con- 

 taining seven or eight nests, which were made of sticks. 



The eggs of the Bonaparte's Gull vary in ground-colour from 

 pale brown to dark brown and olive-brown, but the range of varia- 

 tion is not very great. The spots are generally evenly distributed 

 over the surface of the egg, but occasionally they form a zone 

 round the larger end ; they vary in size from that of a small pea 

 down to mere specks. The surface-spots are dark brown, and the 

 underlying spots on those eggs where the ground-colour is pale, 

 are brownish-grey and distinct, but where the ground-colour is 

 darker, they are greyish-brown and indistinct. The eggs vary in 

 length from 2"05 to 19 inch, and in breadth from 145 to 135 

 inch. Small eggs of the Black-headed Gull may easily be con- 

 fused with large eggs of Bonaparte's Gull ; but in a series the 

 difference in size between the eggs of the two species is very 

 conspicuous. 



THE LITTLE GULL. 

 (Lams minutus.) 



Plate 36, Figs. 1, 2. 



The Little Gull has been found to be a somewhat irregular 

 visitor to our shores on migration, and in winter. The breeding- 

 range of the Little Gull extends from the lakes of Ladoga and 

 Onega, through Southern Siberia, to the Stanovoi Mountains 

 and the southern shores of the Sea of Ochotsk. 



The nests are built of sedge, dead reeds, and grass, the finer 

 portions being reserved for the lining. The usual number of eggs 

 is three, but two are occasionally found ; and both Meves and 

 Russov state that sometimes four eggs are laid in one nest. 

 They vary in ground-colour from greyish-buff to huffish-brown 

 and olive-brown. The surface-spots are dark brown, sometimes 

 approaching black, and the underlying spots, which are generally 

 very distinct (except on the eggs having a dark ground-colour), 

 are grey. The size of the spots varies from that of a pea down- 

 wards ; occasionally two or three of them are confluent and form 

 an irregular blotch, and in some instances streaks are inter- 

 mingled. They vary in length from 175 to 1*5 inch, and in 

 breadth from 1"22 to 1*18 inch. 



