EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 109 



and is now in the British Museum. The species inhabits the 

 Mediterranean and Black Seas, and nests in marshes or among 

 sand banks. 



THE GBEAT BLACK-HEADED GULL. 

 (Larus ichthyaetus.) 



Plate 35, Figs. 3, 4. 

 An adult bird, in full breeding plumage, was shot in the spring 

 of 1859 in the estuary of the Exe, in Devonshire. This specimen 

 is now in the Exeter Museum. It is an eastern species, breeding 

 from the basin of the Caspian eastwards to Mongolia. 



THE COMMON GULL. 



(Larus can us.) 

 Plate 34, Figs. 5, 6. 



The Common Gull breeds in various parts of Scotland and 

 Ireland, both on the coasts and inland, extending to the Orkneys, 

 the Shetlands, and the Outer Hebrides. It nests only in the 

 northern portion of the Palsearctic region, from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific. In Europe it is not known to breed south of 

 the Baltic. 



The nest is carelessly constructed of dead grass and other 

 weeds, and is generally placed on the ground, either in a rocky 

 niche, on dry sandy earth, or in swampy grass or moss, and a 

 clump of sedge or a bunch of heath are often chosen. Newly laid 

 eggs may be obtained during the last half of May in Scotland ; 

 but north of the Arctic circle I have taken fresh eggs in the 

 middle of June both in Norway and in Siberia. Three is the 

 usual number. They are subject to very little variation. The 

 ground-colour varies from olive-brown to huffish-brown. The 

 spots are seldom larger than a pea, but occasionally very irregular 

 in shape, and sometimes elongated into streaks ; they are 

 generally most abundant on the large end, but occasionally evenly 

 distributed over the egg. The surface-spots are dark brown, 

 sometimes approaching black, and the underlying spots, which are 

 seldom very distinct, are brownish-grey. The eggs vary in length 

 from 2-35 to 21 inches, and in breadth from 17 to 16 inch. They 

 are not very easily confused with those of any other British gull. 



