246 GREY-CAPPED GULL. 



fact, of this part is not so dark as that which covers 

 the back and upper plumage, although the margins 

 of the hood are darker. The two first quills are 

 deep hlack, with a large white spot on both webs 

 removed about three-fourths of an inch from the 

 tips ; at the base of the second quill is a white spot, 

 this becomes larger on the third and fourth, until, 

 in the fifth quill, it spreads and occupies the whole 

 of the outer shaft ; the sixth quill is grey outside, 

 except near the end, where it becomes white ; at this 

 part it is crossed by a band of black, leaving the 

 extreme tip pure white ; the third, fourth, and fifth 

 quills have all white tips, but those which follow 

 are without. It deserves notice that the quills and 

 wing-covers beneath are much darker than on their 

 upper surface; the margins of the wings, and the 

 whole of the spurious quills, tail, and under plumage, 

 are pure white ; the middle tail-feathers are shorter 

 than the lateral, but they are all broad and very ob- 

 tuse, the wings extend near two inches beyond the 

 tail. In the young, or female, or in the winter 

 plumage, the grey hood is not clearly defined. The 

 bill and feet are deep crimson. 



Total length, 16 inches ; bill, from the gape, 2 T 4 5 ; 

 front, l T 4 o; wings, 12 \ ; tarsus, 2; hind toe and 

 claw, T 4 o ; middle ditto, 1 T 8 S ; the hind toe is near 

 twice the length of its claw. 



