272 AVES NATATORES. [LARUS. 



gray, tinged with clove-brown, the margins of the feathers fringed with 

 grayish white: scapulars edged with white: greater coverts pale bluish 

 gray, deeply edged with white : first four quills with the outer webs and 

 tips black, the inner webs grayish white : under plumage white : tail 

 white for two-thirds of its length, terminated by a broad black bar: legs 

 livid or flesh-red." SELB. (Egg.) Unknown. 



A very rare occasional visitant in this country. First noticed by 

 Montagu, who describes a specimen shot on the Thames near Chelsea. 

 Has since occurred at Yarmouth, and on one or two other parts of the 

 eastern coast, as well as in Cornwall and Scotland. Said to be common 

 in the East of Europe, frequenting rivers and lakes. Food, insects and 

 worms. Nidification unknown. 



292. L. capistratus, Temm. (Brown-headed Gull.) 

 Bill and legs reddish brown : tarsus one inch seven lines : 

 shafts of the outer primaries white : in summer, a brown 

 hood reaching to the occiput. 



L. capistratus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 785. Flem. Brit. An. 

 p. 142. Yarr. in Proceed, of Zool. Soc. 1831. p. 151. Masked 

 Gull, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. xm. p. 204. 



DIMENS. Entire length fifteen inches : length of the bill (above, from 

 the first feathers) one inch and half a line, (from the gape) one inch ten 

 lines ; of the tarsus one inch seven lines ; of the middle toe, nail included, 

 one inch six lines ; from the carpus to the end of the wing eleven inches 

 eight lines. YARR. 



DESCRIPT. (Winter plumage.) According to Temminck, exactly 

 similar to that of the next species, from which however the present 

 may always be distinguished by its smaller size, its more slender as 

 well as shorter bill, shorter tarsi, and smaller feet : the colour of the feet 

 is also reddish brown. (Summer plumage.) " Head, and upper part of 

 the neck, brocoli-brown, bounded by blackish brown, descending lowest 

 at the fore part, some of the dark feathers at the margin in front tipped 

 with white; the remaining portion of the neck, breast, abdomen, vent and 

 tail, pure white : upper surface of the wings pale ash-gray ; under surface 

 grayish white : primaries white, edged and tipped with black, broadest 

 on the inner web; shafts white: bill, legs, and toes, brownish red; 

 membranes chocolate-brown." YARR. (Egg.) Unknown. 



But little is known of the habits of this species, which was first cha- 

 racterized as distinct from the two following, by Temminck. Inhabits 

 the Shetland and Orkney Islands. Has been also shot in Ireland, in 

 the neighbourhood of Belfast, by Mr Thompson. Food and nidification 

 unknown. 



293. L. ridibundus, Linn. (Black-headed Gull.) 

 Bill and legs bright red : tarsus one inch ten lines : a large 

 white space in the middle of the primaries : in summer, a 

 deep brown hood reaching below the occiput. 



L. ridibundus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. n. p. 780. Black-headed 

 Gull, Mont. Orn. Diet. $ Supp. Selb. Illust. vol. n. p. 486 

 pi. 92. Black-headed and Red-legged Gulls, Bew. Brit. Bird*. 

 vol. ir. pp. 222, & 225. 



