605 



GAVIA CAPISTEATA. THE BROWN-MASKED 

 MEW. 



MASKED GULL. 



Mouette a masque brun. Larus capistratus. Temm. Man. d'Ornith. II. 785, 

 Masked GuU. Yar. Brit. Birds, II. 430. 



Brown-headed or Masked Gull. Larus capistratus. Thompson, Nat. Hist, 

 of Ireland, III, 334. 



" A light-hroivn mask, ending at the occiput ; length of 

 the tarsus an inch and a half ; the outer quills with white 

 shafts.''^ — Temminck. 



"Winter Plumage. — The winter plumage of this new 

 species being absolutely, without any exception, the same as 

 that of the Laughing Mew, its repetition is omitted. In this 

 state it is still very easy to distinguish the species ; that of 

 the present article, always smaller, measures in entire length 

 thirteen inches four lines ; its bill is much smaller and more 

 slender, and its tarsi as well as its toes, constantly shorter, 

 have a reddish-brown tint," — Temm, 



" Summer Plumage. — Forehead dull brownish-grey ; top 

 of the head, cheeks, orifice of the ears and throat light 

 brown; occiput, nape, and fore part of the neck, pure white ; 

 the brown on the throat much darker than on the head ; bill 

 slender, reddish-brown ; feet pale reddish-brown." — Temm. 



Remarks. — A bird considerably smaller than Gavia ridi- 

 bunda, but not much more so than individuals of many 

 species are found to be Avhen compared with others, and 

 having the same proportions and plumage, but differing in 

 having a brown mask in place of a hood, that is, the brown 



