SLENDER-BILLED GULL. 73 



where these specimens came from, I went in search of their eggs, 

 which were previously unknown to me. I arrived, but not without 

 some difficulty, at the top of a sand-hill, which was entirely surrounded 

 by the sea, and I there found some eggs of which the following is 

 a description: — As large as a hen's egg, white, but covered with a 

 great number of sjDots, more or less large, which were black, 

 blackish brown, or ash-colour, more numerous at the larger end. 

 Some of the eggs were almost entirely white, and it was not without 

 trouble that I found some ashy spots, as though they had been 

 effaced. There were some individuals of this species of Gull flying 

 about the spot." 



Doderlein says (op. cit.) that M. Cantraine, in his travels in Sicily, 

 met with this bird several times on the southern coast of that island. 

 More recently another was taken near Messina, from among many 

 individuals of L. melanocejjhala, and given to Benoit. I also got 

 one specimen in the summer dress in the port of Palermo; and I 

 had also two adult skins from Baron Caruso, one of which was in 

 winter plumage. Mr, Wright records it at Malta. Three specimens 

 were captured in the neighbourhood of Sardinia, and are preserved 

 in the Museum of Cagliari. It is less rare in the Mediterranean than 

 is generally believed. Bonaparte found it in Corsica, Sardinia, and 

 upon the coasts of Romagna; and Crespon says it is rather plentiful 

 in the waters of the Gard, and that it sometimes breeds in the mouth 

 of the E.odano. 



Salvadori says it is rare in Italy, only having been observed in 

 Sicily, Sardinia, and Malta. Saunders says that he observed it 

 frequently on the coast of Sicily ("Ibis," 1869, p. 397.) According 

 to Cara it is found in Sardinia, but if it is so it is very rare. Three 

 individuals are preserved in the Museum of Cagliari. This Gull is 

 found on the coasts of Turin, Egypt, Asia Minor, and the Caspian Sea. 



Mr. Cullen, son of Dr. Cullen, of Kustendji, was fortunate enough 

 to find a colony of this bird, and obtained many eggs and skins, 

 which I had the pleasure of distributing among the collections in 

 this country. The following is taken from the "Field," in which 

 I inserted it. It refers to a very interesting point in natural 

 history : — 



"The following record of the discovery of a new locality for the 

 breeding place of this Gull quite confirms the accuracy of the opinion 

 of Temminck as to its being more frequent in Europe than has been 

 hitherto supposed. At various places along this coast the sandy 

 shores are only raised one to two feet above the sea level, separating 

 it by a narrow belt of sand from large spaces or lagoons of shallow 



A'OL. Y. L 



