230 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
he is not near such a fine bird on the wing as the Greater 
Black-backed Gull; and he is quite as shy, for we never 
obtained so much asa shot. By the 23rd of January this 
species had already partly put on its summer plumage, and 
in connection with this, I may mention, that I have fre- 
quently known the English Black-headed Gull* to have a 
nearly black head in winter. 
%202, COMMON GULL, Larus canus, Linn. 
We found this common in the Delta. We first certainly 
identified it at Damietta on the 23rd of January, when five 
specimens were shot. Near Samanhoude a sixth was shot, 
and I am sure several flocks were seen between those places, 
yet it has been considered very rare. 
203. MEDITERRANEAN HERRING GULL, Larus 
leucopheus, Lict.; “Norasa.” 
A good many were seen in Lower, and I believe a few in 
Middle Egypt. A young one, obtained at Damietta, had 
the legs white, tinged with flesh colour. Compared with 
some young English Herring Gulls, its plumage was whiter. 
204. LESSER BLACK-BACK GULL, Larus fuscus, Linn. ; 
L. fuscescens (Licht.); “Goka.” 
This Gull is a resident in Egypt, though where it breeds 
I cannot say. They were to be seen in the harbour at 
Alexandria on the 7th of January, and again on the 2oth of 
June. I met with them at the Faioum, and in Upper 
Egypt also; this species was very frequently shot in the 
beginning of May. I do not know a bird of more unsullied 
* Larus ridibundus. 
