GA 



GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL. 609 



LARIDJt. 



r - 



LARUS ICHTYAETUS, Pallas.* 

 THE GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



THIS south-eastern species, by far the largest of the Black- 

 headed Gulls, has undoubtedly straggled on one occasion to 

 the coast of England. Its occurrence was recorded in 1859 

 by Mr. F. W. L. Ross of Topsham (Ann. & Mag. N. H. 

 (3), iv. p. 467), who stated that " one was shot by a boat- 

 man, Mr. W. Pine, when employed by W. Taylor, Esq., of 

 Bridgewater, who was engaged in fishing for bass in the 

 river off Exmouth, about the end of May or beginning of 

 June last : it was in company with a flock of ordinary Gulls. 

 Its remarkable size and appearance attracted the attention 

 of the boatman, who, having his gun with him, singled 

 it out, and fortunately obtained the bird, which has since 

 been kindly presented by the above-named gentleman to the 



Reise Russischen Reichs, ii. p. 713 (1773). 





VOL. III. 



4 i 



