286 Mr. Montagu's Observations 



species in the Second Supplement to the General Synopsis, under 

 the title of Brown Gull, is no other than the Black-headed Gull 

 in its adolescent state ; and it becomes the more necessary to clear 

 up this point, as it is stamped with such high ornithological au- 

 thority, which might lay a foundation for more confusion in this 

 very intricate class. 



To point out the errors of our friends, for whom we have the 

 highest regard, would, indeed, be a task ill suited to our pen, 

 Mere we not, from long habits of intimate friendship with both 

 these gentlemen, well aware of the purity of their writings, 

 and that nothing would afford them more pleasure than the fur- 

 therance of science, by clearing up the doubts existing by well 

 grounded facts. 



In the former works of nv) r friend Dr. Latham, he had been in- 

 duced to fall into the opinion of other authors, and made some of 

 the varieties of the Black-headed Gull distinct species. In his Index 

 Ornithologicus, however, he has very judiciously brought the L. ci- 

 nerarias and erythropus of Gmelin, together with the ridibundus, as 

 mere varieties; but suffers the Sterna obsenra to remain a distinct 

 species, although he expresses a doubt whether it may not be a 

 young of some one of the Tern or Gull genus. 



Thus the Doctor had cleared away much of the obscurity; and 

 it only remains to restore the Brown Gull to its proper place, as 

 the young of the Black-headed species, and scarce differing in 

 plumage from the state in which it is described as the Brown- 

 headed. 



Whether the Brown Tern of the older naturalists is a Tern or a 

 Gull is perhaps a doubt; for, as the young of the former do not 

 remain with us long after they are capable of flying, we cannot 

 ascertain their several changes in plumage ; though we ought, 

 perhaps, to give them credit, and admit it was a Tern, but not a 



distinct 



