HERRING GULL. 5.H 



Young. — When about a week old, the young, covered 

 with long soft down, have the bill brownish-black, the tip to 

 a considerable extent reddish-white, tlie knob on the upper 

 mandible whitish. The general colour is yellowish-white, 

 tinged with red, all spotted over with blackish, the spots 

 more distinct and darker on the head, lighter on the lower 

 parts. The feet pale brown, as are the claws. This descrip- 

 tion is taken from two specimens brought from the Bass 

 Rock, in the end of June 1824, by Mr. De Jersey. 



When fully fledged, the young have the bill brownish- 

 black, with the base of the lower mandible flesh-coloured ; 

 the iris brown ; the edges of the eyelids dusky ; the feet of a 

 dingy flesh-colour ; the claws black. The head and neck are 

 greyish-white, streaked with brownish-grey. The upper parts 

 are variegated with deep greyish-brown and reddish-white ; 

 the feathers being margined with the latter colour ; the lower 

 parts greyish-white, streaked and spotted with pale brown. 

 The quills and primary coverts are brownish-black, very nar- 

 rowly edged at the tip with grey. The tail is black, narrowly 

 tipped and at the base irregularly barred with white. 



Progress toward Maturity. — After the first autumnal 

 moult the colours are as follows : — 



Young in the First Winter. — The bill is bluish- 

 black, the base of the lower mandible flesh-coloured ; the iris 

 brown; the feet purplish flesh-coloured. The head and 

 neck are greyish-white, streaked with greyish-brown, the 

 throat without streaks ; the lower parts greyish-white tinged 

 with yellow, the feathers spotted and barred with light greyish- 

 brown. The upper parts are variegated with greyish-brown 

 and greyish- white, each feather being margined and indented, 

 or sometimes barred with the latter colour. The primary 

 quills and their coverts are greyish-black, with their inner 

 webs paler toward the margin, their tips narrowly-edged with 

 dull white ; the secondaries are greyish-white at the base, 

 then grey, toward the end greyish-brown, their terminal 

 margins greyish-white ; the inner secondaries like the back. 

 The tail is greyish-black, narrowdy tipped with greyish-Avhite, 



