LITTLE GULL. 01 



In Cornwall, two shot at Swanpool, Falmouth, by T. Passingham, 

 Esq., January, 1847; and in the same month another was 

 captured at Ponsnooth. In Essex one. One, a young bird, 

 near London, at Chelsea. One in Kent, at Sheerness, in 1840, 

 Mr. Chaffey, of Dodington, has informed me. Mr. Bullock 

 obtained two specimens in 1819. 



In Scotland, one on the Firth of Clyde; also one on the 

 Sol way Firth, in the autumn of the year 1824. In Shetland 

 one, a female, was shot by Mr. Robert Dunn, on the 7th. of 

 April, 1853. 



It has occurred in Ireland, but only very rarely; two were 

 seen, and one of them obtained, in the Bay of Belfast, in 

 December, 1847; another on the Shannon an aduit bird in 

 summer plumage. 



They frequent the mouths of rivers, lakes, and ponds. 



They are migratory in their habits. 



These birds seem to associate with the Terns; and are shy, 

 and difficult to be approached. 



This Gull flies in a peculiarly swift and airy manner, 'a la* 

 the Sea Swallow, one while hovering over a spot that contains, 

 or seems to contain, some article of food, now wheeling about 

 in graceful sweeps, and now soaring aloft to a great height 

 in spiral movements, and away the sea-fowl hies to the place 

 of its nightly rest. 



They feed on insects, worms, caterpillars, and the young 

 fry of fish. 



Male; length, a little over ten inches; bill, bright red, in 

 winter reddish black or brown; iris, very dark brown; behind 

 the eye is a small crescent-shaped spot of white; in winter a 

 small triangular black one before it. Head on the back, crown, 

 and the neck all round, deep black, in winter brownish grey 

 black; below white; in winter the forehead is white, the back 

 of the head and nape white, streaked with more or less of 

 greyish black; the sides white; the chin, throat, and upper 

 part of the back, white; a dusky spot under the eye, and an 

 oblong patch of dusky black rather behind it, going downwards; 

 chin and throat, deep brownish black, in winter white ; breast, 

 white, tinted with rose-colour; back on the upper part, clear 

 pale grey, coming forwards on the sides towards the breast; 

 below white. 



The wings have the first two quill feathers of nearly equal 

 length; they reach about ari inch and a half beyond the end 

 of the tail; greater and lesser wing coverts, mottled with 



