367 



near Smyrna, large flocks passing inland during the day, returning to the coast in the evening. 

 It arrived at Thessalonica about the 13th April, and at Smyrna from the 5th to the 25th April; 

 and he obtained an old male near there on the 16th August. He adds that it is frequently met 

 with in the corn-fields hunting after insects, and it certainly breeds near Smyrna and Salonica, 

 but he was unable to find its breeding-stations. Canon Tristram records it as being abundant at 

 Jaffa ; and it occurs in North-east Africa. Von Heuglin says that it is not rare during winter on 

 the coast of Egypt and the lagoons of the Delta, and is found, he adds, in pairs or small flocks, 

 occasionally in company with Black-headed Gulls, on Lakes Mareotis and Etku. He thinks 

 that it may possibly breed in Lower Egypt. According to Dr. A. E. Brehm it has been met 

 with in Nubia. 



In habits this Gull is said to assimilate closely to Larus ridibundus ; but, as above stated, its 

 cry differs from the cry of that species, and enables one to distinguish it when at a distance. 



But little is known about its breeding-habits; and its eggs are still somewhat rare in collec- 

 tions. It certainly breeds on the coast of Asia Minor and near Kustendji, at which latter place 

 its eggs have been taken by Dr. Cullen. This gentleman says that its nest resembles that of the 

 Slender-billed Gull, and it breeds in the same localities. Dr. Bree, in an article in the ' Field,' 

 says of these eggs, which were sent to him for examination, " they differ, like those of Larus 

 ridibundus, very much in size and colour; but I have compared them with one hundred speci- 

 mens of the latter in my collection, and they differ markedly from that motley crew. They are 

 deficient in one great character of the British egg, viz. the prevailing shade of green which, as 

 a rule, pervades the latter, but which is entirely absent in the fourteen eggs sent to me. In 

 size they vary from l- x % inch long by 1-fe inch broad, the smallest, to 1\ inches by 1^ inch, the 

 largest. The ground-colour varies from a dirty white in seven specimens to light yellowish brown 

 in four, and a darker tint of the same colour in three. One specimen has a few scattered spots 

 of umber-brown, and another a few spots and streaks of the same colour. Two have more and 

 larger, and two more and smaller and distincter spots, of two shades of the same colour. In 

 three the colourings are of a richer brown, and are more thickly spotted and streaked at the 

 larger end ; while the remainder are marked more regularly, without any zone, with the same 

 two-shaded spots." 



I possess three eggs said to be those of this species, which were sent to me by Von 

 Gonzenbach from near Smyrna, and which agree closely with the above description of 

 Dr. Cullen's eggs, 



The specimen figured, on the same Plate with Larus ridibundus, is an adult in full summer 

 dress. I have not figured this bird in winter plumage and immature dress, as it so closely 

 resembles the Black-headed Gull, from which, however, it may readily be distinguished by its 

 much stouter bill. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens: — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, <s ad. Smyrna, August 16th, 1871 {Dr. Kriiper). b, ? ad. Bebec Bay, Bosphorus, April 11th, 1867 

 (Robson). c,ad.,d,juv. Coast of Asia Minor, winter. 



4G 



