BRITISH BIRDS. 



203 



THE COMMON GULL. 



COMMON SEA-MALL, OR MEW. 



(La ni s Caiitis, Linn. Moucttc. a picds blcus, Temm.) 



THE Common Gull generally measures between 

 sixteen and seventeen inches in length, thirty-six, 

 and sometimes more in breadth, and weighs about 

 one pound. The bill is pale yellow, tinged with 

 green, and an inch and three quarters long; irides 

 hazel : edges of the eye-lids red ; the upper part of 

 the head and cheeks, and the hinder part and sides 

 of the neck, are streaked with dusky spots in win- 

 ter, the same parts in, summer are pure white ; the 

 back, scapulars, and wings are fine pale bluish 

 grey: the throat, rump, tail, and all the under 

 parts are pure white : the first two quills black, 

 with a pretty large white spot near the tips; next 

 four tipped with black, and the secondaries largely 

 with white: legs greenish, or a dirty white. This 



