Birds of Britain 



the bill begins to show signs of yellow. The wing coverts 

 and tail are, however, still very mottled. 



After the third autumn moult the under parts, head, and 

 neck are much as in the adult birds but more thickly 

 mottled, the back chiefly grey, but the wing coverts, wings, 

 and tail are still very brownish. In their third summer they 

 are practically in adult plumage except for the wings and tail 

 and a remnant of black on the bill. After the fourth autumn 

 moult they are in full adult plumage except that the bill may 

 still show some traces of black and occasionally the tail has 

 some brown flecks, but by the time their fourth summer 

 comes round they are in full adult plumage and breed. 



Immature birds are seldom seen among colonies of 

 adults during the summer, and it is still somewhat doubtful 

 where they spend the summer ; possibly round some islets 

 out at sea where food is plentiful. Length 24 in.; wing 

 17 in. 



THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 



Larus fuscus, Linnaeus 



Very closely allied to the Herring Gull, this species is 

 tolerably common everywhere, but is rather more local in 

 the breeding season. In England it nests but sparingly 

 and only in the west, but in Scotland it becomes much more 

 abundant, and in some districts commits considerable havoc 

 among the game-birds on the moors. 



It chooses for its breeding-quarters some grassy slope on 

 the top of the cliffs or on an islet in one of the numerous 



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