LAEUS GELASTES 369 



The young have the crown and nape marked with grey, the upper parts 

 with ashy-brown ; the primaries blacker ; the tail banded with black, and 

 the rosy tint on the under parts absent. 



Observations. — Examples obtained in December differ merely in having 

 the white of the upper parts slightly tinged with pale grey, while the rose 

 hue on the under parts, contrary to what one would expect, is much more 

 pronounced, and extends even to the white parts of the upper plumage ; bill 

 and feet yellow instead of coral-red. 



A pair which I have had in my possession about ten years, still preserve 

 the beautiful rose tint to a certain extent, though it is far less marked than 

 it was when I received the birds freshly killed. 



The Slender-billed Gull is not at all uncommon in Tunisia during 

 the winter months and on passage, and is apparently to be found in 

 the Regency throughout the entire year. I have a specimen obtained 

 at Djerba in July, and, according to Blanc, the species is frequently 

 to be met with on the small islands of South Tunisia during the 

 summer months, and probably breeds there. 



This Gull is not uncommon on the coasts of Algeria, but seems to 

 be rarer in Marocco, though it has been met with near Tangier, and 

 has apparently been found on the West African coast as far south as 

 Senegal. In some parts of South Spain it is not uncommon, and has 

 been found breeding in the marismas of the Guadalquivir. 



The range of this species extends throughout Southern Europe and 

 North Africa, further southward, as just stated, to Senegal on the 

 West African coast, and in North-east Africa to Keneh on the Upper 

 Nile. It is found on the coasts of Asia Minor, the Black and Caspian 

 Seas, the Persian Gulf, and as far east as India. 



In its habits this Gull is essentially marine, and is rarely to be 

 found far from the sea-coast. It is very gregarious and sociable, and 

 may be met with at times in vast flocks. It is not particularly shy 

 and may be approached without difficulty. Its note is said to resemble 

 the call of a Eook, but is more prolonged and less harsh. It feeds on 

 small fish and insects. 



Nests of this species, obtained by Mr. Dresser in the marismas of 

 the Guadalquivir, were placed on the dry mud of an island in the 

 lagoon, and were rather loosely built of sticks and a few Flamingo 

 feathers, the number of eggs in a clutch being two or three. These 

 had the ground colour white, tinged with a faint rosy blush when 

 24 VOL. II. 



