LARID.E. 605 



The specimen in question is a bird of the first year, in 

 precisely the same state of plumage as a Maltese example 

 shot early in February. The Editor has not the slightest 

 doubt that the facts are as stated, but, inasmuch as there is 

 just a chance of an accidental exchange of specimen, or 

 label, between 1866 and 1871, when the Editor examined 

 the bird in question, he does not think that its pedigree is 

 sufficiently perfect to justify the admission of the species as 

 a British bird. In case, however, it should again visit these 

 shores, its distinguishing characteristics and geographical 

 distribution are briefly sketched. 



In its fully adult plumage, Larus melanocephalus may 

 be easily recognized by its jet-black head, stout coral-red 

 bill with a darkish band in front of the angle, and white 

 primaries (with the exception of a black streak on the outer 

 web of the first) ; bat in less mature specimens which have 

 assumed the black hood for the first time, there are black 

 streaks and cross-bars on both webs of the first five 

 primaries. In the bird of the year, like the one in the 

 British section of our Natural History Museum, the first five 

 primaries have the outer webs, the shafts, and the greater 

 portion of the inner webs, of a dark brown on both upper 

 and under sides, with light margins ; whereas in young 

 L. ridibundus the shafts and the contiguous portions of the 

 inner webs are white with dark margins. On the wing, 

 when seen from below, these distinctions are very notice- 

 able ; as also the greater robustness of bill in L. melano- 

 cephalus. 



The geographical distribution of the Mediterranean Black- 

 headed Gull is somewhat circumscribed. It breeds in the 

 marshes of the Black Sea, and on the coasts of Asia Minor ; 

 and perhaps in Lower Egypt ; the species being generally 

 distributed throughout the whole of the Mediterranean, in 

 which it has probably many nesting-places, although their 

 exact localities are little known. Outside the Straits of 

 Gibraltar the Editor observed this species, apparently breed- 

 ing, near Huelva ; and Mr. A. Chapman shot a specimen 

 from its eggs on some low islands off the ' marisma ' (Ibis, 



