BICHATIDSON'S SKTJA. 121 



reticulated with small pointed scales. Webs, blackish, blotted 

 with yellow. 



The female is as the male. 



The young are at first covered with down, of a beautiful 

 light brown colour, spotted and barred with black, the former 

 gradually wearing out. In the first year's plumage the bill, 

 which is curved at the point, is black on that portion, and 

 the remainder brownish grey, as likewise the cere; iris, dark 

 brown. Head, crown, neck, and nape, pale yellowish brown, 

 streaked with dark brown, the most so on the hinder part 

 of the sides of the head, and of the neck. Chin and throat, 

 pale yellowish brown, streaked and mottled with darker brown; 

 breast, pale yellowish brown, barred across with darker brown. 

 Back, deep brown, the feathers tipped with yellowish. Greater 

 and lesser wing coverts, deep brown, margined with pale yel- 

 lowish brown; primaries, dusky brownish black, tipped with 

 pale brown, and part of the inner webs white, as also the 

 shafts; tertiaries, brown, margined with paler brown. Tail, 

 deep dusky brown at the base, the remainder brownish black, 

 and the two middle feathers half an inch longer than the 

 others; the whole number of feathers is twelve. Under tail 

 coverts, pale yellowish brown, barred with darker brown. The 

 legs, at first black, become yellowish white and blue; the toes, 

 also at first black, turn to yellowish white at the base, the 

 remainder black; webs, yellow at the base, and the front black, 

 whence the name to the species of the Black-toed Gull. 



