430 LAEID^E 



wings are darker, and the black and grey on the primaries 

 show a deeper shade. 



Adult female nuptial. Similar to the male plumage. 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the nuptial 

 plumage, with perhaps the very faintest indications of grey 

 streaks about the head and neck. In this respect it differs 

 from the adult winter-plumage of the Herring-Gull. 



Immature, male and female. Eesembles the immature 

 plumage of the Herring-Gull. 



BEAK. Yellow, red at the angle ; the colours being 

 much brighter than those of the Herring-Gull. 



FEET. Brilliant yellow. 



IRIDES. Bright yellow ; margin of eyelids, bright orange- 

 red. 



EGGS. Kesemble those of the Herring-Gull. 



AVERAGE MEASUREMENTS. 



TOTAL LENGTH ... ... ... 23 in. 



WING 18 



BEAK 2'95 



TARSO-METATAKSUS 2*75 , 



Allied Species and Representative Forms. L. vegce, from 

 the East coast of Siberia, wintering in Japan and China, 

 is grey on the back and wings, but darker in shade than 

 either of the above Herring-Gulls. Its feet are flesh-colour. 



LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Larus fuscus (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. v, pi. 

 56 ; Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. viii, pi. 603 ; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. vi, pi. 24. 



The Lesser Black-backed Gull, slightly smaller than the 

 Herring-Gull, and of similar build, is easily distinguished in 

 its mature plumage by its dark bluish-black wings and back. 

 From the great Black-backed Gull it can be identified by 

 its much smaller size. It is in no wise as abundant on our 

 shores as the Herring-Gull, and though resident in some 



