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MEDITERRANEAN BLACK-HEADED 

 GULL. 



Larus melanocephalus {Natterer). 



This Gull is resident on the shores of the Mediterranean, 

 and, according to Mr. Howard Saunders's "Manual" (2nd 

 Ed. 1899, p. 667), there are only two instances on record 

 of its occurrence in Britain, and indeed one of these is open 

 to doubt. 



This species may, however, now be added to the county 

 list, for an adult example, in winter plumage, was obtained 

 on the Yorkshire coast in November 1895, and a figure of 

 the bird is here given. 



I have further information regarding this individual, but, 

 unfortunately, have failed to obtain permission from the 

 owner of the specimen to make it public. 



COMMON GULL. 

 Larus canus [L.). 



Winter visitant, fairly abundant ; a few immature birds remain 

 in the estuaries of the Tees and Humber during summer. 



The earliest known reference to this bird in Yorkshire 

 is in the Rev. J. Graves's " History of Cleveland " (1808), 

 where it is enumerated in the list of birds. 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Larus canus. — Common Gull — Common on the coast ; it is seen 

 rarely near Sheffield ; Dr. Farrar remarks that " Near Barnsley the Gulls 

 were occasional visitants, they sometimes remained a day or two, 

 but were generally in transition apparently between the east and west 

 seas, and, as far as my observation extended, invariably from the 

 former to the latter. The Common Gull, Wagel, and Herring Gull 

 were by far the most numerous in these migrations." It is seen occasion- 

 ally near Leeds, at Hebden Bridge, and York ; it also occurs near 

 Hudderslield. A. Strickland says that it is common on the east shore, 

 except at the breeding time, and does not breed on any part of the 

 coast. 



