832 BIRDS OF INDIA 



Gen. Xema. 



Syn. Gavia, Bonaparte. 



Char. — Of small or moderate size ; head becoming black or 

 brown in summer ; bill rather short, moderately stout ; wings 

 long ; tail short ; tarsus long. 



980. Xema brunnicephala, Jerdon. 



Larus apud Jerdon, Cat. 406 — Blyth, Cat. 1696. 



The Brown-headed Gull. 



Descr. — In summer the whole head and neck sooty-brown, 

 darker where it terminates ; orbital feathers white posteriorly ; 

 back and wings light grey ; nape, hind neck, upper tail-coverts, 

 and tail white ; 1st primary black, inner web white at the base, 

 and with a white subterminal band ; the next has both webs white 

 at the base, and a smaller terminal spot ; the 3rd is grey with 

 still less black, and no white, and so on, lessening to the 7th ; the 

 other quills are all grey. 



Bill and feet fine red, the former darker at the tip ; irides white. 

 Length about 16 to 17 inches; wing 13i ; extent 40; tail 5A ; 

 bill at front 1^ 



In winter the head is white, generally somewhat soiled, often 

 with a few faint dusky marks, and there is always a dark spot 

 behind the ear-coverts. The young bird is coloured like the bird 

 in winter plumage, but the tail has a dark band, and the irides are 

 yellow-brown. 



This Gull is very abundant throughout the whole of India, fre- 

 quenting the sea coasts and ascending rivers for many miles ; it is 

 often found also in large lakes. It has the usual habits of its tribe, 

 and frequently follows ships for miles to pick up any garbage that 

 may be thrown overboard. Occasionally, but not often, I have seen 

 it feeding in newly ploughed fields and in marshes. It does not, 

 that I know of, breed here ; its nidificaton indeed is unknown, but 

 probably is in Cashmere and parts of Central Asia. 



981. Xema ridibunda, Linnaeus. 



Larus apud Linnjstjs — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 425 — 

 Blyth, Cat. 1695. 



