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the zones of the black and red on its 

 bill and by the subterminal black band 

 on the tail at all seasons in both adults 

 and young. 



Immature birds have three fourths 

 of the tail nearly black while the 

 immature of the Common Gull (L, 

 canus) have only one third dark brown. 



Distribution. — This is the common 

 Gull of China and Japan. It winters 

 in the Yangtse Valley and goes North 

 to breed in North China, Eastern 

 Siberia, and Japan. 



It is found in large numbers on the 

 China coast and sometimes on large 

 bodies of water far in the interior. 



LAUGHING GULL. 



LARUS RIDIBUNDUS (l). 



Description. — Length 16 inches. 

 Bill and legs red. Iris brown, eyelids 

 red. 



In winter plumage, the head and 

 under parts are white and the mantle 

 bluish grey. The tail is white. The 

 primaries are black with grey outer 

 webs. 



In summer, the head of the adult 

 bird is dark brown. 



Young birds are mottled with brown 

 and do not have the dark head in 

 summer. The characteristic mark of 

 this bird is the red bill which is much 

 smaller and less swollen at the tip 

 than the larger Gulls. 



Distribution. — Europe and Asia. It 

 is a winter visitant in the Yangtse 

 Valley and breeds further north. 



