394 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



equal; tail always even with, or shorter than the wings. The 

 tail and the beak will always distinguish the gulls from the 

 terns. 



The sexes do not differ in plumage, but the female is the 

 smallest. They do not assume the full mature dress until 

 the third or fourth year, when they are ready to breed. With 

 the exception of the glaucous, Iceland, and ivory gulls, are 

 chiefly summer migrants to the north, though many remain 

 off the southern coasts all the year, and they are all seen off 

 the North Cape in the winter. 



A. With black or brown head in summer, which, how- 

 ever, is always white in the winter. The immature dress is 

 more or less spotted. Breed in fresh water. 



228. LARUS MINUTUS, Pall. Dverg Mase. The Little Gull. 



D.F. 



Tarsus and middle toe alike, 1 in. ; primaries in the 

 ends white ; the shafts grey-brown ; the claw of the 

 hind toes very small and straight ; mantle ash-blue ; 

 beak dull red ; legs bright red ; tail !- in. shorter than 

 the closed wings; length 11 in. ; beak in. ; rump and 

 all the under parts white ; sides in summer with a faint 

 rosy tint. 



Breeds in Gotland, and I believe in no other place in 

 Scandinavia. Far more common around Novaga, Ladoga, 

 and Archangel, in Russia. 



In habits much resembles the black-headed gull, and 

 the egg is of much the same shape and colour, but smaller ; 

 those I have seen measuring about 1-^- x 1^-. 



229. L. EIDIBUNDUS, L. Skratt Mase. The Black-headed 



Gull. D. F. 



Tarsus 1-f- in. longer than the middle toe ; the outer 

 wing feather white, with black tips and edges ; mantle 

 ash blue ; tail 2 in. shorter than the wings ; length 

 16 in.; beak, from forehead, 1-f- in.; beak and legs 

 reddish. 

 Is very common in South Sweden ; rare in Norway. 



