36, 



LAKUS MELANOCEPHALUS. 



(ADRIATIC GULL.) 



Larus melanocephalus, Natterer, Isis, 1818, p. 816. 



Xema melanocephalus (Natt.), Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 365. 



Larus atricilloid.es, Naccari, Orn. Venet. p. 22. no. 74 (1823). 



Xema melanocephalon (Natt.), C. L. Brehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 757 (1831). 



Xema caniceps, C. L. Brehm, op. cit. p. 758 (1831). 



Chroicocephalus melanocephalus (Natt.), Bruch, J\ f. Orn. 1853, p. 104. 



Melagavia melanocephalus (Natt.), Bp. Naumannia, 1854, p. 213. 



Croicocephalus (sic) melanocephalus (Natt.), C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 342 (1855). 



Chroicocephalus caniceps, C. L. Brehm, Vogelfang, p. 343 (1855). 



Gavia melanocephala (Natt.), Bp. Compt. Bend. xlii. p. 771 (1856). 



Gavia affinis, Nardo, Att. 1st. Ven. ser. iii. vol. iv. p. 1056 (1858-59). 



Larus atricilla, Lilford, Ibis, 1860, p. 356, nee Linn. 



Goeland-melanocephale, French ; Gauja, Maltese ; Gabbiano corallino, Italian. 



Figurw notabiles. 

 Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 427; Naumann, Vog. Deutschl. taf. 259 ; Bp. Faun. Ital. pi. 47. fig. 6. 



Ad. Laro ridibundo similis, sed capite et collo superiore nigris nee nigro-fuscis, rostro robustiore et majore, 

 remigibus albis, extimo in pogonio externo nigro marginato, rostro et pedibus coralbnis : iride fusca. 



Juv. Laro ridibundo similis, sed rostro robustiore, remigibus minus albido notatis nee in pogonio externo sed 

 in pogonii interni diniidio externo griseo-albo marginatis. 



Adult in summer (Bosphorus, 11th April). Differs from Larus ridibundus in having the hood jet-black 

 instead of brownish black ; the bill is stouter and rather larger, especially in old birds ; the quills are 

 white, the first quill alone having the outer web margined with black ; bill and legs coral-red; iris 

 brown. Total length about 14 inches, culmen l m 6, wing 12 - 0, tail 5-0, tarsus 1'9. 



Young. Differs from the young of Larus ridibundus in the arrangement of colour on the primaries, there 

 being much less white in the present species. In Larus ridibundus the white on the second, third, and 

 fourth primaries extends to the shaft on the inner web, or over the shaft to the outer web, whereas in 

 Larus melanocephalus the black extends over the whole of the outer web and to the middle of the inner 

 web, this latter having the rest of the inner web greyish white, narrowly edged with blackish grey. In 

 Larus melanocephalus the bill is much stouter. 



Adult in winter (Asia Minor) . Resembles Larus ridibundus ; but the nape and hind neck are much more 

 striated, not clouded with grey, and the quills are coloured as in the adult in summer above described. 



Obs. I find in the series I have examined that (as stated by Mr. Saunders) the black head is often assumed 



