Birds of Britain 



Bill and legs much darker than in summer. The young 

 in their first plumage are mottled with pale brown, but soon 

 become like the adult except for a black bar on the tail and 

 pale brown wing coverts. The brown head is often only 

 partially assumed in their first summer. Length 16 in. ; 

 wing" 12 in. 



THE MEDITERRANEAN 

 BLACK-HEADED GULL 



Larus melanocephalus, Natterer 



This southern species has only once been taken on our 

 shores, though, as it visits the west of France not un- 

 commonly, there is no great improbability in its occur- 

 rence here. Its true habitat is the Mediterranean basin. 



It is slightly smaller than the preceding species, and 

 the head is jet black, not brown. The beak is also stouter. 

 In young birds the first five primaries are chiefly dark 

 brown, whereas in our species the shafts and contiguous 

 portion of the inner webs are white. Length 15 '5 in.; 

 wing 11-75 in. 



THE GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL 



Larus ichthyatus, Pallas 



This species is found in Egypt, the Levant, the Eed Sea, 

 and Persian Gulf, and only one example is known to have 

 occurred on our shores. 



