GLAUCOUS GULL OR BURGOMASTER. 61 



tibia bare for three quarters of an inch ; tarsus somewhat compressed, 

 covered anteriorly with numerous much curved scutella, laterally with 

 angular scales, behind with nimierous small rectangular scales ; hind 

 toe very small and elevated, the fore toes of moderate length, slender, 

 the fourth longer than the second, the third longest, all scutellate above, 

 and connected by reticulated entire membranes, the lateral toes mar- 

 gined externally with a thick narrow membrane. Claws small, slightly 

 arched, depressed, rounded, that of the middle toe with an expanded 

 thin inner margin. 



The plumage is very full, close, elastic, soft, and blended, on the 

 back somewhat compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute ; the 

 first quill scarcely two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, 

 which is longest, the rest of the primaries rapidly graduated ; secon- 

 daries broad and rounded. Tail of moderate length, nearly even, being 

 slightly rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers. 



Bill gamboge yellow, with a carmine patch towards the end of the 

 lower mandible, and the edges of both mandibles at the base of the 

 same coloiir. Edges of eyelids red, iris yellow. Feet flesh-coloured, 

 claws yellowish. The head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail, are pure 

 white ; the back and wings light greyish-blue ; the edges of the wing, 

 and a large portion toward the end of all the quills, white. 



Length to end of tail 30 inches ; bill along the ridge 2i^2, along the 

 edge 3^ ; wing from flexure 19^ ; tail 8| ; tarsus 2{l ; hind toe ||, its 

 claw T^j ; second toe x§, its claw || ; middle toe 2-^^, its claw j| ; outer 

 toe 21, its claw i%. 



The Female, which is somewhat less, resembles the male. 



Young in full plumage. Plate CCCXCVI. Fig 2. 



The bill is yellow to a little beyond the nostrils, black at the end ; 

 the feet flesh-coloured, the claws dusky. The iris brown. The gene- 

 ral colour of the plumage is very pale yellowish-brown ; the feathers 

 of the back with a large dusky spot towards the end ; the quills and 

 tail-feathers barred with the same. 



