84 GB.BAT BLAGK-HEADED GULL. 



In Europe it has been observed in the Ionian Islands, in Hungary, 

 and Switzerland. Dr. Leith Adams informs me that it is common on 

 the Delta of the Indus, in the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. 

 It is in fact an Eastern species, which occasionally wanders into 

 Europe. 



It nests, according to Pallas, in the middle of the downs on the 

 sea-shore. It lays two or three eggs, which are oblong, pale grey, 

 with a number of light or dark brown spots. It feeds on fish, and 

 it has a voice strong and deep, like that of a crow. 



As Mr. Boss's description was taken from the bird in the flesh, I 

 copy it from the "Zoologist:" — "Head, entirely, and part of the neck 

 pure black; the rest of the neck, beneath the body, upper tail coverts, 

 ends of scapularies, and secondaries, pure white; the rest of the 

 upper surface of a pale plumbeous grey; quills pure white, with the 

 ends black and the tips white, which latter colour is more prominent 

 on the first quill, while the second has the black also divided irregularly 

 with white near the end; a small white mark above and beneath the 

 eyes; beak at its base livid yellow, with a crimson ring-like spot near 

 the tip, which is fuscous yellow; the feet fuscous red. "Wlien first 

 obtained the circles round the eyes were red." The measurements I 

 have given in the specific diagnosis. 



In "Naumannia" for 1856, p. 164, there is an account by J. G. F. 

 Beaumont, of the capture of a bird of this species in the lake of Geneva. 

 It was in the young plumage. He describes it as closely allied 

 to Larus marinus (the Greater Black-backed Gull) in its young 

 state; but he says the colouring is clearer, and the beak and feet 

 weaker in L. ichthyaUos. The following is his description of this 

 bird, killed in the end of the year 1848: — 



"Throat and upper part of neck clear white. The breast, belly, 

 flanks, and under tail coverts are everywhere dull white, with large 

 bright brown spots on each feather, darker on the sides. Cheeks 

 and sides of neck white, with fine grey brown stripes on each 

 feather; head, neck, mantle, and all the wing coverts greyish white, 

 with brown spots, darker than the under parts. Tail dotted and 

 marbled with very dull brown, the two outer feathers whiter than 

 the others, the two middle fea,thers almost entirely brown, all barred 

 at the tips with a broadish brown band. Wing primaries blackish 

 brown, with clear tips; beak blackish; basis of lower jaw flesh- 

 coloured; feet the same; iris clear brown." 



Mr. Beaumont then makes some very just remarks about the ab- 

 surdity of creating the genus Xema for dark-headed Gulls with 

 thin beaks, and naively asks, where are we to place this giant of 



