BRITISH BIRDS. 



2OI 



THE IVORY GULL. 



(Larus Eburncus, Linn. '(Gm.) Motiette blanche ou 

 senate ur^ Temm.) 



LENGTH sixteen to nineteen inches, extent three 

 feet three inches and a half. Bill bluish black at 

 the base, paler towards the tip; irides pale lead 

 colour, but becoming- much darker in old birds. 

 The whole plumage in the adult birds pure white; 

 the skin throughout is covered with a profusion of 

 remarkably thick fine white down; the wings are 

 long, and reach beyond the tail ; the tibia naked a 

 little above the knees; legs, feet, and claws black; 

 hind toe very distinct : the voice harsh and strong, 

 and its appetite voracious and indiscriminating. 

 The young are marked with brownish black cir- 

 cular spots, sparingly distributed on the back and 



VOL. II. 



2 c 



