'^88 Mr. Montagu's Observations 



a few quotations, particularly the Ornithological Dictionary, where 

 references may be found under its various denominations; and to 

 the General Synopsis, as well as to Gmelin's Systema Naturce, for 

 the more copious: and in order to render the subject more clear, 

 we shall begin with a short description of the Black-headed Gull 

 in its first, or nestling feathers, or as it first appears on our shores 

 after having quitted its place of nidification; and trace it through 

 the various changes till it arrives at full maturity, which we are 

 inclined to believe, in this and some of the smaller species of the 

 same genus, is effected in one year*. 



In the first plumage the feathers are more or less mottled with 

 brown and white, which in a short time after leaving the nest 

 are displaced by those which are wholly white underneath; the 

 head becomes white, with an obscure spot behind the ear; but the 

 back scapulars and coverts of the wings continue mottled longer. 



In this state, therefore, it comes nearest to the description of 

 Raj's Brown Tern, which had the whole under side white ; the 

 upper brown ; the wings partly brown, partly ash-colour : but 

 then he expressly says the head is black ; a circumstance which 

 never occurs in this bird while it has any brown feathers remaining 

 on its back, and therefore cannot be referred to. 



The second material change brings it to the Brown Gull, Lath. 

 Si/n. Sap. ii. p. 331. to which we refer for a comparative descrip- 

 tion; and which so exactly accords with the following, taken from 

 a recent specimen we killed on the 12th of February last on pur- 

 pose to send to Dr. Latham, that there can be no doubt of their 

 being the same. 



* Many of the larger species are, no doubt, three years or more becoming perfect : a 

 Herring Gull, which has now been four years and a half in our possession, still retains 

 a few black markings down the shafts of the tail feathers; the head and neck streaked 

 with dusky; and the bill pale, indicating a change to yellow, but the tip still dusky. 



Lenglli 



