LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 



Larus fuscus 



Back and wings dark slaty blackish grey ; primaries 

 black, with a large white spot on first primary near the point ; 

 rest of plumage pure white ; legs and gill yellow, latter with 

 a red spot on lower mandible ; eyes yellow, eyelids red. 

 Length, 23 inches. 



In all probability whenever a gull is seen it is most 

 likely to be this one, as in my experience through- 

 out Egypt it is, I think, the commonest of all. 

 The next in order is the Black-headed Gull, but, 

 unfortunately, in the winter months it is without its 

 black cap, which causes it to escape notice. 



The Gulls do on the water what the Kites do on 

 the land — they act as scavengers ; and it matters not 

 whether you are arriving at Alexandria or on board 

 a steamer at Assoan, you will, alike from end to 

 end of Egypt, find these birds busy, searching for 

 every scrap of waste thrown into the river, which 

 river is the main drain of the country. The use 

 that these birds are is therefore enormous, and 

 they, in common with Vultures and Kites, ought 

 to be protected and on no account shot. This 

 year of 1909 I have seen more of these three 



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