1 92 1.] Birds of Tasso and adjoininff Islands. 279 



*Numeniiis arquatiis arquatus. Curlew. 

 Abounds alono- mud-flats. 



Numenius phaeopus phseopus, Wliiinbrel. 



A very counnon bird, whose numbers become much reduced 

 by the end of April. A few were seen on 2o May, whilst a 

 single bird was seen near Freetown on 20 June. 



Squatarola sqiiatarola. Clrey Plover. 



A common sjiecies, retreating at high water to the 

 niangrove-bi-anchos in companv with other Waders. 



Arenaria interpres interpres. Turnstone. 



Common along the shoi-es at low water. When the tide 

 I'ises they, as well as other Waders, take refuge in the tali 

 mangroves, where one nuiy find lots of fifty or more all 

 huddled together. 



*Lariis cirrhoceplialus. Grey-headed Gull. 



The most common Gull. Very numerous at Freetown 

 during the winter, but they nearly all depart for their 

 breeding-grounds in the interior in April. 



*Larus fuscus affinis. British Lesser Black-backed Gull. 



Tt is obviously the light-backed race of this Gull which 

 occurs sparingly oti' Tasso Island. Common at Freetown 

 as late as 11 May, at which date only two or three used, 

 in comj^any wMtii a single Larus ciri'/iocephalus, to visit our 

 ship daily. No actual specimen was obtained during this 

 A isit. 



Lariis fuscus fuscus. Continental Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull. 



A single specimen of the dark-backed race of this Gull 

 was obtained on 11 ]\Liy at Freetown. 



[The specimen obtained on 11 May is undoubtedly an 

 example of the dark-backed race, Larus fti.'iCKs fascus. It is, 

 of course, far out of the supposed range of this species, 

 which is usually considered to be Scandinavia and eastwards 

 (breeding). In winter it visits the eastern Mediterranean, 



