LAKID^. 385 



Little Gull, Larus minutus, Pallas. 



A casual visitor in autumn and winter, i. e. from August to Februarj-. 

 The specimens obtained are generally in immature plumage. The Little 

 Gull occasionally wanders inland, following the course of the larger 

 rivers. 



This, the smallest of the Gull family, with a body somewhat less than 

 that of a common Blue-Rock Pigeon, although very rarely obtained in 

 this country in full adult plumage, when it has a black cap upon the head, 

 is not uncommon in the autumn and winter, large flocks occasionally 

 appearing off the Yorkshire and jSTorfolk coasts. In Devonshire the 

 greater number of the examples secured have been from the estuaries of 

 the south coast ; from North Devon, as far as we know, only three have 

 been recorded, while at least thirty are said to have been obtained in the 

 south of the county. 



The Little GuU feeds upon small fishes and insects, pursuing and cap- 

 turing dragonflies upon the wing. 



The plumage of some immature specimens we have examined in the 

 flesh was suffused with the same beautiful rosy tint as is seen in the 

 lilack-headed Gull in breeding-plumage, and also in some other Gulls and 

 Terns ; it soon disappears. 



A Little Grull shot at Brent, South Devon, was in the British Museum. Another 

 ■was shot September 28th, 1828, twenty miles up the Taraar, and another there in 

 October 1831. Mr. Drew had two others (E. M., Trans. Plym. Inst. 1830, p. 838 ; 

 Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837, p. 360). One shot in Plymouth Sound in February 1852 

 (J. B., ' Naturalist,' 18.53, p. 204) ; one at Plymouth, December 24tb, 1858 (B., MS. 

 Notes) ; one January 1859 ; one, nearly adult, February 3rd, 181)2 ; one December 3Ist, 

 1808, at Plymouth (J. G., MS. Notes ; Zool. 1859, p. r>377 ; 18i')2, p. 7940). 



One occurred in Torbay, November 1844 (F. W. L. R., MS. vol. iv. p. 159) ; two 

 there January 1869 (Zool. 1869, p. 1720); one 12th February, 1870 (A. von H., Zool. 

 1870, p. 2098) ; one at Paignton (in Torquay Museum) ; one in Torbay, October 1876 

 (G-. F. M., Zool. 1876, p. 5161). 



One was killed at the mouth of the Teign, November 24th, 1866, in pursuit of sprats, 

 in company with a large flock of Kittiwakes (C. S., Zool. 1867, p. 562). An immature 

 specimen was obtained on the Exe estuary, November 28th, 1844 (F. W. L. R., MS. 

 Journ. iv. p. 1.59). One was eliot by Mr. G. C. Luke, January 31st, 18.")1, whilst 

 feeding with two others in a turnip-field near Exeter (W. T., ' Naturalist,' 1852, p. 19) ; 

 one was shot on the Exe, December 28tli, 1855 (Zool. 1856, p. 5065) ; one October 27th, 

 1873 ; an adult at Woodbury Road Station, November 29th, 1876 ; two immature 

 birds on the Exe, January 12th, 1877 (Zool. 1877, p. 104) ; another, January 17th, 

 1877. 



A Little Gull was caught by a fishing-line at Beer (' Exeter Gazette' for January 13th, 

 1871). We saw a specimen in a bird-stuffer's shop at Seaton in 1883, which may have 

 been this one. 



Two, nearly adult, were shot on the sands near Braunton Burrows, August 30th , 

 1858 (Zool. 1858, p. 6245) ; and another there January 1869 (Zool. 1869, p. 1803). 



The Little Gull has been seen at Lundy Island. The llev. H. G. 

 Heaven lias informed us that one wa.s seen beating about close i.'i shore in 

 (Jctober 1801. 



On the Cornish coast the Little Gull also occurs in the autumn and 

 winter, and Mr. llodd states that both iuinialure birds as well as aduks 



2c 



