LAETTS. 205 



constant to one type. In shape they are regular ovals, sometimes 

 slightly compressed at the smaller end. The ground-colour is pale 

 buff, and the markings, which consist of spots, streaks and blotches, 

 are, on some specimens yellowish brown, on others, the majority, dark 

 blackish brown. The underlying markings are pale purple. The 

 markings are firm and well defined, and are generally evenly spread 

 over the shell, but in some examples the blotches are large and 

 confluent and are collected at the larger end; whereas in others 

 the markings are all comparatively small and delicate. The eggs 

 measure from 2'9 to 3*3 in length, and from 2 to 2'2 in breadth. 



1. South Russia. Saunders Coll. 



4. Caspian Sea. Saunders Coll. 



15. Astrakhan (Henke). Seebohm Coll. 



Larus melanocephalus, Natt. 



Larus melanocephalus, Thien. Fortpflanz. ges. Vog. tab. Ixxxvii. fig. 3 

 (1845-54) ; Bree, Birds Eur. 2nd ed. v. p. 78, pi. (1876) ; Dresser, 

 Birds Eur. viii. p. 365 (1878) ; Seebohm, Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 108, 

 pi. 34. figs. 3, 4 (1896) ; Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 180 

 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 139 (1899). 



Gavia melanocephala, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 72. fig. 4 (1855-63). 



The eggs of the Adriatic Black-headed Gull vary in shape from 

 a short broad oval to an elongated oval. Of the seven specimens 

 in the Collection, one, although much stained, appears to have 

 been unspotted white ; three are of a creamy-buff colour, rather 

 sparingly spotted with yellowish brown or blackish brown and the 

 usual underlying pale purple ; and three are olive-buff, boldly 

 blotched wifh chocolate -brown, yellowish brown and pale purple. 

 They vary from 1'87 to 2'2 in length, and from 1-4 to 1*5 in 

 breadth. 



1. Southern Europe. Old Collection. 



2. Dobrudscha. Seebohm Coll. 



3. Dobrudscha, 24th June( W.H. Culleii). Saunders Coll. 

 1. Smyrna. Saunders Coll. 



Larus Philadelphia (Ord). 



Chroicocephalus Philadelphia, Newton, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 57, pi. iv. fig. 6. 

 Larus Philadelphia, Baird, Brewer 8f Ridgw. Water Birds N. Am. ii, 



p. 260 (1884) ; Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 307, pi. 54 (1885) ; 



MacFarlane, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiv. p. 418 (1891) ; Seebohm, 



Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 106, pi. 36. fig. 7 (1896) ; Saunders, Cat. 



Birds B.M. xxv. p. 185 (1896); Dresser, Birds Eitr.ix.. (Suppl,} 



p. 387 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 139 (1899). 



The eggs of Bonaparte's Gull vary from a short rounded, to 

 an elongated narrow, oval form. The ground is olive-buff. The 

 markings vary in colour from yellowish brown to dark blackish 

 brown, and there are the usual underlying pale purple clouds and 



