204 BIRDS OP THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



during the summer months are birds in the second 

 and third year's plumage. 



262. LARUS LEUCOPTERUS, Faber. Iceland Gull. 



This is another of the Arctic Gulls which occasion- 

 ally visit our eastern seaboard in the autumn and 

 winter. It has in these seasons been killed near 

 Flamborough Head, although almost without ex- 

 ception in the young or immature garb. 



In size and appearance it approaches the Herring- 

 Gull, but may readily be distinguished by having 

 the quill feathers all white, without any black tips. 



I have only once seen the Iceland Gull within the 

 Humber, on the 18th of April, 1872 an unusually 

 late occurrence for one to be seen so far south. This 

 was an immature bird, but apparently fast putting 

 on the mature dress. There was not a dark spot in 

 the plumage. The head, neck, tail, primaries and 

 underparts white ; the back and wing-coverts had a 

 bluish-grey tinge, but broken with pale yellowish 

 brown, giving these parts a dirty clay-stained ap- 

 pearance. 



263. LARUS FUSCUS, Linnaeus. Lesser Black-backed 

 Gull 



Much more plentiful than formerly. Ten years 

 ago we used to consider it rather a rare Gull in the 

 river ; now it is of very common occurrence. 



These Gulls may be found on the Humber through- 



