Ornithological and other Notes, by Andrew Brotherston. 177 



broken, apparently not by shot, but by some other means — pro- 

 bably stormy weather. 



Leach's Petrel {Procellaria leuoorrhoa), V. — A specimen of the 

 Fork-tailed Petrel was found dead near Eckford, December 3rd, 



1879. Another sea-bird — a Razor-bill — was found near More- 

 battle, in the middle of March following. 



Egyptian Goose (Anser Egyptiacus), Jentns. — One of these 

 handsome geese was shot on the Teviot, March 2nd, 1880. From 

 the appearance of one of the wings, which was "pinioned," it 

 had been a tame bird. 



" Masked " Gull {Larus capistratus), Flem. — On February 5th, 



1880, I received an immature male specimen of this interesting 

 gull. It was shot near Berwick by Mr T. Darling. Its habits 

 he observed were solitary, sitting outside of the flocks of the 

 Blackheaded and Common Gulls, and not rising with them when 

 frightened off. It was very fat and in good condition. Weight 

 rather under 8^ oz. ; length from bill to end of tail, 14;^ in. ; 

 length from bill to end of wings, \Q\ in, ; length of wing from 

 carpal joint, 11 in. ; expanse of wings, 35^ in. ; bill, tarsi, and 

 toes, same as given by YarreU (1843), vol. iii. 431. Ornitholo- 

 gists differ as to whether the " Masked " Gull is a distinct species, 

 or merely a small specimen of the Blackheaded Gull {Larus ridi- 

 hundus). iSize is not a safe characteristic to go by, as individual 

 specimens of many species of birds vary more in size, than that 

 between the "Masked" and Blackheaded Gulls. The habit of 

 remaining after the others take flight, is interesting. Yarrell 

 quotes a similar instance: — "It was found associating with 

 several of the Blackheaded species, but remained after all its 

 congeners had taken wing." Prof. Newton, writes regarding 

 this specimen : — "I have long had great doubts whether such a 

 species as the '■ Masked Gull ' exists. All the specimens bearing 

 that name, which have come under my inspection, have certainly 

 been immature Black-headed Gulls— rather smaller in size than 

 the average. Such a bird (in summer plumage) as that figured 

 by YarreU, I have not met with, and I imagine that the small 

 size of the dark mask must have been due to the stuffer not having 

 pulled the skin back to its proper place after operating upon it. 

 Whether or not a distinct species, I think there is no doubt 

 that this specimen is what was considered by Yarrell, and others, 

 to be the ' Masked Gull.' " It is now in Berwick Museum. 



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