LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 199 



fish-market and salted fish is sent away all over 

 Egypt, the offal from the gutted fish is simply 

 thrown out on to the shore, and work as hard as the 

 Gulls do, they cannot clear all away that is daily 

 added to this pestilential heap. Wherever Gulls 

 come into a scene they add a sort of lightness and 

 brightness to it. This is often felt at sea, where, 

 after days and days of dreary water, at last some 

 Gulls appear and give the needed brightening touch, 

 and wherever they are seen their white wings 

 make a charming point of contrast. Those who 

 know London know what a boon they are to the 

 leaden Thames, and even in sunny Egypt they are 

 a welcome addition to river scenery. 



THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 



Larus ridibundus 



General plumage white below, wings a delicate lavender 

 grey, the large flight-feathers black and white at their tips ; 

 head and throat in breeding dress, a dark brown, in winter 

 white ; legs and beak red ; eyes brown. Length, 15 inches. 



This ought to be called the Brown-headed Gull, as 

 the colour is never black. In winter the whole 

 head is practically white, and it is in that plumage 

 that most visitors to Egypt will alone see it. 



