Birds of Britain 



mantle grey ; tail and under parts white. The hlack on the 

 head is lost in winter. Length 14 in. ; wing 10 "2 5 in. 



This species may always be recognised by the white 

 margins to the inner webs of the two outer primaries. 



THE LITTLE GULL 



Larus minutus, Pallas 



This species, which is the smallest of our Gulls, is 

 an irregular autumn visitor to our shores. It breeds in 

 Northern Eussia and possibly on some of the islands of the 

 Baltic, migrating in winter to the Black Sea and Mediter- 

 ranean. 



In summer the head and neck are black ; mantle grey, 

 primaries grey edged with white, rest of plumage white 

 except the underside of the wing, which is black and forms 

 a distinctive characteristic in the adult. Length 11 in. ; 

 wing 8*75 in. 



THE BLACK-HEADED GULL 



Larus ridibundus, Linnaeus 



The Black-headed Gull is an extremely abundant species 

 throughout the United Kingdom at all times of the year. In 

 summer it resorts to various inland marshes and bogs, where 

 it nests in immense colonies, some of which have been in 

 use for centuries. In autumn and winter it is found all 

 along the coast and up tidal rivers, a great many coming to 



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