110 296 



with light flesh-coloured feet, younger individuals having the head, 

 nape, and back thickly strewn with light reddish-brown spots, and 

 the vent and abdomen almost entirely grey-brown." 

 ^: X ^^. ^^ ^^^^ '^ distinct species, L. HutcUnsii must either be an 

 <5^^^V.-'^^^"^^ 01' represent a particular stage of some gull species, 

 ^^^ ^..^ which, in the latter case, cannot but be L. glaums. This bird I nre- 

 .7^^ ^^ siin^e, can hardly be a true albino, in the same sense as is a 

 fX"*^^ ^^"^^ ^^^^' ^^'^^■^"^^■' ^^' sP'^^rrow; for it is difficult to conceive why 

 i^il2l<*^"^ species, rather than others of the genus, should display 

 ^^, ^^1^4'so singular a tendency to that variation. Probably the truth 

 ^-a/^^T^'*"'^^' ^^^^^ ^' ^'^f^^"^"***^'«' represents a particular, if not a regular 

 ^'7TJ£ ^^^^^ ^" ^- ^^^^^*«*- indeed the comparatively small number of 

 A^^^^^ such individuals observed in a species so abundant, plainly indicates 

 <^^t^Z^^ exceptional character of the dress; transitions, on the other 

 4iy4^4^and, are sufficiently numerous; but the conditions under which a 

 pure white plumage may occur have not yet been pointed out. 

 It this bird be actually L. glaucus in an earlier stage, ^ the singu- 

 lar phenomenon would be at variance with analogy as regards 

 the gradual development of plumage in the other northern Lari. 

 Is it not more probable rather that such individuals are old birds, 

 in which the light-blue mantle from some unknown cause has gra- 

 dually paled, fading at last into pure white, a change of coloration 

 also observed in the feet and irides. 



Lariis fuscus, Lin. 

 Breeds in colonies, on the outermost rocks, along the whole 

 coast-line, and in greater numbers here than any other species, but 

 almost invariably by itself. A few pair, however, are always to 

 be found nesting in company with their congeners on the inner 

 holms and islets, and even on the shores of freshwater-lakes near 

 to the sea. 



The eggs of this species differ but little in size and colour, 

 and are best distinguished from' those of L. argentatus by their 

 peculiar lengthened shape.' 



RJasius, „Kntische Bemerkungen uber die Lariden," Journ. f. Ornith. 186.5. 



