3fi8 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



parts. It occurs througbout a considerable portion of Asia, as far 

 north as Kamchatka, and winters in China and Japan. In Africa it 

 seems only to occur on the northern shores. In America it has once 

 been obtained in Labrador. Two allied species, however, represent 

 our Common Gull in America, one a slightly smaller bird, L. hrachy- 

 rhynchus, which is found in the north, the other a rather larger bird, 

 L. delatoarensis, which occurs throughout the rest of that continent. 



The Common Gull frequents inland localities as well as the sea, 

 and breeds indifferently on the coast or on the borders of a lake. In 

 winter, and particularly on migration, however, it is more often to be 

 found on, or near the sea. It is gregarious, and often to be met with 

 in large flocks, though also frequently singly or in pairs. Its flight is 

 slow, but light and graceful, as that of all its kind. Its note is rather 

 harsh. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and offal, and when inland, may 

 be found following the plough in search of insects, grubs and worms. 

 Mr. Ogilvie Grant informs me that the Common Gull may frequently 

 be seen hawking flies and other insects, which it captures on the 

 wing, and that he has observed it of an evening flying round and 

 round the tops of trees in search of moths and similar prey. 



LARUS GELASTES, Thienemann. 

 SLENDER-BILLED GULL. 



Larus gelastes, Thicncvi. Fortpflanz. Yog. Eur. pt. v, p. 22 (1838), 

 ex Licht. ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 290 ; Saunders, Cat. Birds Brit. 

 Mus. XXV, p. 230 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 106. 



Gelastes lambruschinii, Lochc, Exj)!. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 187 (1867). 



Gavia gelastes, Koenig, J.f. 0. 1893, p. 100. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Djerba, South Tunisia. 



Entire head, throat, neck and mantle white, shading into pale pearl-grey 

 on the back, scapulars, secondaries and upper wing-coverts ; upper tail- 

 coverts and tail white ; primaries white, with black tips and black margins 

 to the inner webs, the outer web of the outermost quill being also black ; 

 under parts white, tinged with rose. 



Iris very pale yellow, bare skin round the eye, bill and feet coral-red. 



Total length 17 inches, wing 12-50, culmen 2, tarsus 2-15. 



Adult female similar to the male, but smaller, the wing measuring about 

 an inch less. 



