NATATORES. 265 



the bird was as follows : Bill, black at tip, extreme 

 point white, base yellowish white ; eye dark brown, 

 pupil black, eyelid yellow ; crown pure white, nape 

 white, with longitudinal light brown streaks (as 

 in Larus canus), the feathers of the nape being white 

 with light brown quills and tips ; back and wings 

 above brownish black, approaching nearly to black, 

 the feathers being of two shades, and darkest towards 

 the roots. [This induces the inference that the 

 change is effected, not by a complete moult, but by 

 a gradual change of colour in each feather, the light 

 tips wearing off and giving place to new material of 

 a darker shade.] The whole of the under parts pure 

 white ; upper and under tail-coverts pure white ; 

 principal tail-feathers white, marbled with light 

 brown, the two centre ones the most devoid of 

 markings. Wings, first primary black with white 

 spot at tip (one inch long by half-an-inch wide) ; 

 second primary black, with smaller circular white 

 spot of a quarter of an inch diameter ; third and fourth 

 black, with just the tip of feather white and much 

 worn, the inside web of each feather much lighter, 

 inclining to grey. Secondaries dark slate-colour, 

 inner webs lighter, tips white. Legs and feet pale 

 flesh-colour, lightest at tarsal joint, darkest on webs ; 

 toes dark horn-colour. 



The omnivorous habits of the genus Gull are fully 

 exemplified in this tame bird. Nothing seems to 

 come amiss to him, meat, both raw and cooked, 



2 A 



