BRITISH BIRDS. 



199 



THE LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



(L<irns 7v/.sr//.9, Linn. Goeland a pieds jaune, 

 Temm.) 



Is similar in appearance to the Black-backed 

 (rull, but is much less, and is not quite so dark on 

 the back as that bird is described to be. In the 

 stuffed specimen presented to this work by Mr. 

 Laurence Edmondston, the upper plumage is of a 

 dark bluish lead colour; the greater coverts, scapu- 

 lars, and secondaries the same, but tipped with 

 white ; the primary quills, which are, in all the 

 visible parts, of a dark brown, are also tipped with 

 white; the rest of the plumage white; eye-lids red; 

 irides pale yellow ; the bill the same, but of a much 

 deeper tinge, and the angular knob of the under 

 mandible is reddish orange: legs yellow. 



