756 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on the [Ibis, 



eye-witness of this at Allegranza — that they defend their 

 nest and eggs from those who would rob them by powerfully 

 flapping their wings " (J. f. O. 1857, p. 34<1). 



Neither Cabrera (Cattilogo, p. 66) nor Godman (Ibis, 

 1872, p. 223) seem to have met with the bird themselves, 

 but quote former writers. Godman definitely states that 

 he did not meet with it, but he did not visit the eastern 

 islands. 



The most accurate information is that given by Meade- 

 Waldo, who between the years 1887 and 1891 found it 

 " inucii scarcer than the Lesser Black-backed Gull " (Ibis 

 1893, p. 206). 



Polatzek only once saw two Gulls which miglit have 

 belonged to this species (Orn. Jahrb. 1909, p. 23). 



When I visited the eastern islands in May and June 1913? 

 a special search was made for this Gull. I visited personally 

 Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Graciosa, and Montana Clara, 

 spending over a week on each of the smaller islands. More- 

 over, I landed on tiie West Rock aiul sent my taxidermist 

 (Mr, A. H. Bishop) for a week to Allegranza, where he made 

 enquiries about this Gull without gaining any information 

 whatsoever (Ibis, 1914', p. 85). Neither of us saw a single 

 specimen in any of the islands. Stress of weather prevented 

 our landing on the East Rock, but I came to the conclusion 

 that Larus marinus must long since have ceased to supply 

 the owner of Allegranza " with a considerable revenue "" ! 

 (Ibis, 1914, p. 289). 



Range. The Greater Black-backed Gull breeds in Europe 

 as far south as about lat. 50° N. (on the north-west coast of 

 France), also in north America. In winter it occasionally 

 visits the Mediterranean and has wandered to the Azores 

 and Canaries, and on the American side reaches the 

 Bermudas. 



Larus argentatus cachinnans. Yellow-legged Herring-Gull. 

 Larus cachinnans Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat. ii. 1827, 

 p. 318 — Type locality : S.E. Russia. 

 This Gull is a Partial Resident. 



