80 MEDITEBBANEAN BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



phases of plumage may be seen. As tliey were found in tlie same 

 season, it is clear they must pass some years before they put on 

 their perfect dress. This species is rather common in the Mediter- 

 ranean: in some places it is more common than L. ricUbundus. 

 Wright says it is the most common winter resident amongst the 

 Gulls of Malta. It is of very sociable habits, and in winter appears 

 in the harbour in great flocks, feeding upon the refuse of the ships 

 and city. In Sicily it is most common during winter, but it is not 

 found in that season in Sardinia. Cara says it arrives in spring, 

 and is found in that season in the islands of Pietro and Saint 

 Antioco. In the Koman States, along the Tiber and on the shores 

 of the Mediterranean, it is very frequent. Along the Adriatic coast 

 it is much less abundant than in the Mediterranean, so that it may 

 be said to be there decidedly scarce. Nini says that it appears 

 every year in Venetia, though not common. Very few times it has 

 occurred to me to see them in the market. It is not so frequent 

 in Tuscany as in the Mediterranean, while it is very common in 

 Liguria from autumn to spring." 



In a note Salvadori observes that Savi and Wright are the only 

 Italian writers who have not confounded this bird in youthful plumage 

 with L. atricilla, to whom may be added II Benoit, who merely 

 followed Temminck in his error, but at the same time noticed that 

 he had never seen it {L. atricilla) in Sicily. 



Count Miihle says the species is becoming rare in Greece. It 

 appears to breed there, but he did not discover the nests. ''It is 

 not very shy, but becomes cautious after being often shot at. It may 

 be sought for in spring, in swampy places, with the Terns, and, 

 like similar species, it feeds on insects." 



Dr. Lindermayer says he has only seen it in spring, when it 

 appears tolerably plentiful over harbours and creeks. In the 

 first week of May it disappears, and he has reason to believe that it 

 breeds on the coasts: but he never got the eggs. "It does not 

 appear to come into the Archipelago." 



I quite agree with Dr. Lindermayer, that there is no ground 

 whatever for acceding to the proposition of Count Miihle, to change 

 the name of this bird to that of Larus michahellei. 



Captain Loche records this species among the birds of Algeria, 

 but Mr. Tristram doubts whether it breeds there. At all events 

 he did not find any eggs. Baldamus, however, (" Naumannia," 

 1853, p. 419,) says that he had received eggs from the south of 

 France and Algeria; that they are found in Hungary without any 

 doubt, ("Naumannia," vol. ii, p. 81.) The dimensions are, according 



