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Larus innominatus, Sp. Nov. 



Like Larus ichthyaetus, Pallas, hut very much smaller, more black on 

 the primaries, and no white ring round the eye. 



I have, for the last three years, had by me an adult female in 

 full summer plumage of a bird which I cannot doubt is the 

 Larus ichtht/aetus minor o£ Schleofel. 



Knowing that Mr. Howard Saunders was engaged on a 

 Monograph of the Gulls, I did not think it necessary to describe 

 the species, but as his monograph appears to contain no refer- 

 ence to this very distinct species, I think it as well now to call 

 attention to the bird and bestow on it a separate name. 



Of course SchlegeFs trinomial appellation cannot stand, nor 

 can we adopt the name minor, dropping the middle term of 

 Schlegel's designation, and I think it best, therefore, to bestow 

 upon it a totally new name. 



This species occurs in the Bay of Bengal, from which, 

 however, as far down at any rate as Amherst on the Tenasserim 

 Coast, we also have the true ichthyaetus. 



The specimen which is the type of the present species, an adult 

 female in full summer plumage, was procured on the 20th March 

 187 6, by my friend Mr. Davison, at Gopalpore on theGanjam Coast. 



He measured it and recorded the colors of the soft parts, but 

 the ticket was unfortunately lost, and we have therefore only the 

 specimen to go by. 



Subsequently he has seen the bird in the harbour at Akyab, 

 and I had previously seen it at the Sandheads, but we have been 

 unable to procure any other specimens. 



The first point by which this species is distinguished is its 

 much smaller size. 



Compared with an average female of ichthyaetus it is simply 

 less than half the bulk. The bill is so much smaller that there 

 is no comparison betwen them, and the tarsi are just two-thirds 

 of the circumference of those of ichthyaetus. The comparative 

 dimensions may be gathered from the following, an average 

 female ichthyaetus having been selected : — 



