— 108 — 



and, alttougli Shelley apparently did not meet with the typical 

 herring gull himself, I have twice identified adults at close 

 quarters, i.e. one adult near Giza, in November 1907, and 

 one adult on Lake Manzala in January, 1908. 



Length about 22 inches. In summer the head, neck, under- 

 parts and tail are white ; quills black with white mirrors. Rest 

 of upper parts French grey. Bill yellow, with a red patch near 

 the angle ; legs and feet jlesh coloured. In winter the head 

 and upper neck are streaked with brown. 



417. Great Black-backed GulL Larus marinus Linneeus. 



Lams marinus. >ShelIey, p. 303. 



Although recorded from the Mediterranean coast, this gull 

 is of rare occurrence, and I have not met with it myself. 



Length about 30 inches. Adult in summer, head, neck, 

 tail, mirrors on primaries and under parts white. Mantle and 

 wings black. In winter the head and upper neck are streaked 

 with ashy brown. Young birds of this species are like nearly 

 all the gulls, during their first year mottled with brown and 

 white, and the full plumage is not assumed for two or three years. 

 Bill of adult yellow, with a red patch at the angle. Legs and feet 

 yellow. In young birds the bill is dark blackish brown and the 

 legs and feet fleshy bro^\^l. 



418. " Common *' GuU. Larus canus Linnaeus. 



Larus canus. Shelley, p. 305. 



Not uncommon on the shores and lakes of Northern Egypt 

 during the winter months. 



Length about 18 inches. In summer plumage the head, 

 neck, tail, rump and underparts are white. Mantle and wings 

 pale pearl grey, the primaries black, with white tips and mirrors. 

 In winter the head and hind neck are streaked with mouse brown. 

 Bill yellow ; legs and feet greenish yellow\ Young birds are 

 mottled with brown and have dark brown bills. 



419. Mediterranean Black-headed Gull. Larus melanocephalus 



Temminck. 



Tjarus melanocephalus. Shelley, p. 308. 



In calling this gull " moderately plentiful in Lower Egypt " 

 Shelley was, I think, quoting Von Heuglin. I have never seen 

 an Egyptian example, although it probably occurs on the 



