262 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



BONAPAKTIAN GULL. 



Lams Philadelphia. 



This exceedingly rare straggler has only once occurred on 

 the coast of Sussex, and was first noticed by Mr. Cecil 

 Smith, of Bishop's Lydeard, Taunton, while looking through 

 the collection of Mr. F. Persehouse, of Torquay. It was in 

 the same plumage as that of the centre figure in Yarrell. 

 The following is Mr. Persehouse's account of its capture : — 

 " It is some years since I shot it, and I cannot supply the 

 exact date, but it was early in November 1870, at St. 

 Leonards-on-Sea, at the west end of the promenade. It 

 was with a number of Black-headed and Kittiwake Gulls, 

 and I mistook it at first for L. minutus. It is an immature 

 specimen." ('Zoologist,' 1883, p. 120.) It was reported in 

 the ' Field' of April 14th, 1888. Mr. Persehouse showed 

 me this example when I was at Torquay. I think it was in 

 1872. 



LITTLE GULL. 



Larus minutus. 



An immature specimen was shot by Mr. Dennis on October 

 16th, 1846, as it passed over his head, while on the beach at 

 Seaford, on the western side of the bay, after a heavy gale 

 from the east. It was then thought a very rare bird. 



I purchased a Little Gull which had been shot near Lewes 

 on the 29th of November, 1849, in winter plumage, and 

 nearly mature ; and in the same winter Mr. Dennis obtained 



