MASKED GULL. 



NATATORES. 



547 

 LARIDM. 



THE MASKED GULL. 



Larus capistratus. 



Larus capistratus, Masked Gull, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 142. 



Brown-headed Gull, JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 272. 



Chroicocephalus EVTON, Rare Brit. Birds, p. 63. 



Larus Mouette a masque brun, TEMM. Man d'Ornith. vol ii. p. 783. 



THIS species, first distinguished and separated from Larus 

 ridibundus by M. Temminck, appears to be very rare, 

 since even now, when so much attention is devoted to 

 ornithology, but very few specimens are known. The first 

 notice of it as a British Bird that I am acquainted with in 

 print, occurs in the sale catalogue of Mr. Bullock's col- 

 lection, published in April, 1819. On the fifth day, a day 

 devoted to the sale of British Water-Birds, the sixty-third 

 lot, page 32, is " Brown-headed Gull, L. erythropus, male 

 and female, young and eggs ; taken at Westra, in the 

 Orkneys;" and was bought by Dr. Leach. From these 



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