Ornithology of Sardinia. 347 



one of the Gulls knocked it into the sea, lighting beside it, 

 got up, and flew away with it in his bill ; but he did not go 

 far before he dropped it, and the poor exhausted little bird 

 made a dying attempt to reach the steamer, his only refuge ; 

 but it was of no use, as he was almost immediately caught 

 again and killed. I dare say this is by no means an uncommon 

 fate of many of our smaller summer migrants. 



246. Larus ridibundus. 

 Very common all the year. 



247. Larus gelastes. 



There are three very fine specimens in the museum. 1 

 never saw any. Cara states it is not uncommon, and resident. 



-f- 248. Larus canus. 



Not uncommon along the east coast. 



249. Larus audouini. 



Cara mentions a specimen killed near the island of Madda- 

 lena in the north of Sardinia in 1858. I think it is extremely 

 rare ; and I never succeeded in securing a specimen. It is 

 said to be not uncommon about the Straits of Bonifacio. 



There is a very fine adult specimen in the Museo Civico at 

 Genoa, which was taken near Savona. The measurements of 

 this specimen are as follows : — Wing 14*5 inches, tarsus 2*2, 

 beak from gape 24, extreme depth of beak when shut '5. 



250. Larus LEucoPHiEUs. 



Extremely common about the lagoons of Cagliari and 

 OristanOj going generally in pairs. I one day saw a very 

 exciting chase between this Gull and a Common Bald Coot, 

 which he had after a good deal of trouble singled out of a 

 large flock. The chase lasted for fully five minutes, the Gull 

 . being much the fastest of the two, and the Coot only escaping 

 by the most marvellously rapid doubling and turning, some- 

 times (when he got a chance) dashing himself into the middle 

 of a large flock, which always deserted him in a most cowardly 

 manner, scattering in all directions. At last, getting tired, 

 he was overtaken by the Gull when a considerable height in 

 the air, and knocked senseless into the water with a splash ; 



