356 



narrower, compressed, the intercrural space long and narrow ; nostrils median, linear oblong, 

 rather large ; wings long, full, pointed, the first quill longest, the second nearly as long ; tail 

 moderate, nearly even or slightly rounded; legs moderate, slender, the tibia bare for a short 

 distance ; tarsus slender, scutellate ; hind toe small, elevated ; anterior toes moderately long, 

 slender, the interdigital membranes emarginate, the lateral toes margined externally by a thick 

 scaly membrane ; the soles flat and granulated ; claws small, slightly curved, obtuse, that on the 

 middle toe with the inner edge sligbtly dilated. 



Besides the species which I have included in the present work, several other Gulls have 

 been included in the European avifauna, though, so far as I can judge, on insufficient evidence. 

 Of these I may name the following, viz.: — 



Larus leucophthahmis, Licht., which inhabits the Red Sea and, according to Temminck, 

 visits Greece and the shores of the Bosphorus ; but recent collectors have never obtained 

 it there. 



Larus hemprichi (Bp.). Of this species, which inhabits the Red Sea and the western coasts 

 of India, a specimen is stated by M. Vian to have been obtained on the coast of Nice with an 

 example of Larus leucophthalmus ; but both examples came through dealers' hands, and are (to 

 say the least) doubtful. 



Larus atricilla, an American species of Black-headed Gull, is stated to have occurred in the 

 Mediterranean ; but recent research has proved that Larus melanocephalus has been mistaken 

 for this species. There is a specimen in the British Museum said to have been obtained at 

 Winchelsea, Sussex, by Col. Montagu. 



Larus philadelphice, Ord, a Nearctic species, is said to have been obtained in Great Britain; 

 but I am very sceptical as to this being the case, as specimens said to be referable to this species, 

 which have on several occasions been submitted to me for examination, have invariably proved 

 to be immature and small examples of Larus ridibundus. They may readily be distinguished 

 from that species, inasmuch as in all plumages Larus philadelphim has the inner webs of the 

 primaries white or pale grey, the undersurface of the closed wing being, therefore, quite light ; 

 whereas in Larus ridibundus the inner webs of the quills are broadly bordered with sooty 

 blackish, the undersurface of the wing being, to a large extent, sooty blackish. 



