THE GULL FAMILY 321 



changing to a lighter tone as the bird ages, this 

 species varies very sHghtly. 



THE HERRING GULL. 



{^Larus argentatus.) 



Male : Summer plumage. — The bill is pure 

 yellow ; patch on the lower mandible rich orange ; 

 iris pale yellow ; edges of eyelids yellow. The 

 head, neck, upper tail coverts, and tail are white. 

 Back and wings light bluish-grey, some of the outer 

 primaries greyish-black ; all the quills tipped with 

 white ; lower parts white. Legs and feet flesh- 

 coloured. Length, from bill to end of tail, twenty- 

 three inches. 



The female is similar to the male. 



In winter the head and neck are streaked with 

 pale brown ; the rest of plumage as in summer. 



The young have the bill brownish-black ; head 

 and neck dirty white, streaked with grey brown ; 

 upper parts mottled with dull brown and brownish- 

 white ; quills greyish-black ; tail same colour, except 

 at the base, where it is barred with white ; legs 

 and feet purplish flesh colour. 



THE ICELAND GULL. 

 {Larus kucopterus.) 



Male. — The bill yellow ; patch on lower mandible 

 orange red. Head and neck white, streaked with 

 pale brown ; rump and tail white. The back and 



