1863.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. 327 



presentative race, extending probably to Karatschatka, whence, 

 doubtless with many other sea-birds, it wends southwards down our 

 line of coast. I have two in very complete plumage. From obser- 

 vation, I should say that these birds require full three years for 

 change into adult attire. 



411. Larus cachinnans, Pallas. 



L. argentatus, var. major, von Schrenck. 



Amoorland. 



Length 22| inches; wing 16|-18; tail 7; tarsi 2| ; bill, along 

 culmen, 2-^ ; height at angle -jL. 



This smaller representative of L. argentatus bears .to the preceding 

 species the same relation that L. leucopterus does to L. glaucus, its 

 wings being relatively longer. It is a commoner winter visitant than 

 the former to Amoy, whence I have procured several both adult and 

 immature. It has a darker more slaty back than L. argentatus, and 

 is considered by some an intermediate link between that species and 

 L.fuscus. It summers in N.E. Asia. Specimens vary a good deal 

 in size and proportions, but I have never procured any exactly in- 

 termediate between the largest of this and the smallest of L. occi- 

 dentalis. 



412. Chroicocephalus ichthyaetos. Pall. 



This monster black-capped Gull is noted by Cassin as procured at 

 Hakodadi (see Perry's 'Expedition to Japan,' vol. ii. p. 252). It is 

 said to be a bird of the Caspian and Red Seas, and to occur abun- 

 dantly in the Bay of Bengal. It is not stated to be found in Amoor- 

 land or Kamtschatka ; but it possibly makes its way to Japan, fol- 

 lowing the course of the warm Gulf-stream. 



413. Chroicocephalus brunneicephalus, Jerdon. 



L. ridibundus, var. major, Midd. Sib. Reise. 



The Siberian and Japanese bird would appear, from descriptions, 

 to be the same as the Brown-hooded Gull of India. Its range ex- 

 tends to Kamtschatka. I have a specimen from India, forwarded 

 to me by Mr. Blyth. 



414. Chroicocephalus capistratus, Temm. 



Larus brunneicephalus, Cassin, Perry's 'Expedition to Japan,' 

 vol. ii. p. 232. 



This comes to Amoy in the winter. I have one from Amoy, and 

 another from Macao ; and Cassin notes the occurrence of a similar bird 

 from Hakodadi. It is smaller than the European C. ridibundus, and 

 has a more slender bill, and is doubtless its representative in the 

 East. It answers well to the description of C. capistratus, Temm., 

 which has occurred in Great Britain, and which Mr. Tristram and 

 others are inclined to believe is only a variety of C. ridibundus. The 

 specimens, however, that have occurred in Europe might possibly 

 have been straj^lcrs from the East. 



