GULLS. 397 



next, is white; beak much as in the last; legs pale 

 grey ; tail about 2 in. shorter than the wings ; iris 

 yellow- white ; length about 2 ft. ; beak, from the nos- 

 trils, 1 in. ; first wing feather longest. 

 Is the commonest of all the gulls (next to the common 

 gull) on all these coasts, right up to the North Cape, but 

 does not, I think, breed in the South, although said to do so 

 on Gotland. 



But the Isle of Sylt in Denmark appears to be a great 

 breeding place of these birds, for according to Kjarbolling 

 30,000 to 40,000 eggs have been sent away in one season 

 from that island. 



235. L. GLAUCUS, Brim. Stor Hvit vingad Trut. The 



Glaucous Gull. D. F. 



The largest of all our gulls. Length 2 ft. 4 6 in. ; 

 beak from gape 4 in. ; tail 8 in. ; tarsus 3 in. Mantle 

 ash blue. Wings scarcely longer than the tail ; the first 

 two primaries equal ; all ash blue, with white shafts 

 and tips. In the winter the head and neck have long 

 grey-brown spots. Beak large, yellow, with a red spot 

 on the large angle on the under mandible ; eyes yel- 

 low ; legs pale yellow-grey. 



Is said to breed on the coasts of East Finland. Eggs 

 two, seldom three ; rather smaller than those of the great 

 black-backed gull, and much like them, but the ground 

 colour is lighter. 



3. With black back at all seasons; under parts white. 



236. L. MAEINUS, L. Hafs Trut. The Great Black-backed 



Gull. D. F. 



Mantle black ; legs white ; tarsus over 3 in. ; wings 

 longer than the tail by about 1 in. ; the first wing 

 feathers black, with white tips; shoulders and secon- 

 daries tipped with white ; beak, wax yellow, with a red 

 spot on the under mandible; iris yellow-grey; legs 

 pearl grey ; length about 28 in. ; beak from gape 4 in.; 

 tail 8 in. ; tarsus 3-f- in. The winter dress is much the 

 same, but streaked dark on the head and neck. 



