300 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



not east of Northern Dvina ; possibly also in N. Italy. Some 

 winter in pjaltic, majority apparently migrate due south overland, 

 being rare to westward ; occur abundantly in E. Mediterranean in 

 winter, and at same season in Red Sea, Persian Gulf and 

 E. Africa. Have been reported off British Coasts and Coasts of 

 Spain in autumn on passage and some probably winter in Western 

 Mediterranean along with the lighter-coloured Western race. 



L. fuscus affinis Reinhardt. ^ $ Like typical "fuscus" 

 but back slaty grey instead of slaty black, and never become 

 browner in worn plumage. Wing 390-445. Tarsus 58-66. Bill 

 42-53. S usually the larger. 



Breeds. — Faroes, British Isles, Channel Islands, W. France, 

 Moorish Coast, Canaries, and Azores. Largely migratory, some 

 winter in Britain, majority pass south to Coasts of Spain, 

 extreme W. Mediterranean, Canaries, Azores, and W. Coast 

 of Africa south to Niger mouth. 



The breeding bird from the Azores has recently been separated 

 as "L. fuscus atlantis" D wight on account of its paler grey 

 back. 



L. fuscus taimyrensis Buturlin. In plumage like "affinis" 

 but larger. Wing 425-460, mostly 440-460 (H.). 



Breeds. — From Lower Dvina and Petchora in N. Russia 

 and Kolguev Island east through Siberia to Taimyr Peninsula. 

 Recorded from Nova Zembla and Waigatz. Occurs in winter on 

 W. Coast of India, and Coasts of Arabia and E. Africa. 



Larus canus canus L. Common Gull. Fr. Goeland 

 cendre ; Ger. Sturmmowe ; Ital. Gaviana ; Swed. Fiskmase. 



^ $ summer. Head, neck, tips of scapulars and secondaries, 

 tail, and underparts white ; mantle pale blue grey ; primaries as in 

 " argentatus," white tip of ist primary 50-60 m.m. long. Bill, legs 

 and feet greenish yellow. Eye-rim vermilion. Iris dark brown. 

 In winter, head and neck are streaked grey brown. Wing 325-360. 

 Tarsus 47-52. Bill 29-33. Young are distinguished from young 

 "argentatus" by small size and white tail with a subterminal 

 brown band about 50 m.m. wide. 



Breeds. — Scotland, Ireland, England (very rarely), Frisian 

 Islands, Jutland, Scandinavia, N. Germany, Baltic Provinces, 

 Russia from Kola Peninsula south to Don, Caucasus, and 



