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orange-red colour, whereas that of the eggs of Sterna hirundo was ochre-yellow. This difference 

 I found, on blowing a large series of eggs, to be constant. Later on I also observed that Sterna 

 hirundo had also separate breeding-places, as, for instance, small islands alongside of larger ones, 

 or else they took possession of a portion of an island, and the Little Gulls drove them out of 

 their ground uttering loud cries. 



The usual form of the eggs is elongated or short ovate, others were oval, some of the same 

 shape as Grebe's eggs, and others again almost pear-shaped. The ground-colour was greenish, 

 greyish green, olive-grey, leather-brown, and greyish brown ; but I never found them with the 

 ground-colour greyish white, as are the eggs of Sterna hirundo. 



" The pale underlying shell-markings were blackish, the large and more distinct spots, which 

 often ran into each other and formed a sort of wreath round the larger end of the egg, were, as 

 were also the spots and dots scattered over the egg, black or liver-brown. On some the markings 

 formed zigzag lines or twisted scratches. Some sittings contained eggs of very different form and 

 markings. 



" I can confirm Professor Liljeborg's statement that the flocks of Larus minutus which sur- 

 round the nest-plunderer sometimes fly far away on a given signal, and in a short time return 

 and again try to get the intruder to leave. On the other hand I do not consider it probable that 

 the last year's young, which can easily be distinguished by the black band on the tail and the 

 light-coloured head, were breeding; for, first, they flew about the nests exhibiting but little 

 anxiety compared with the old birds ; secondly, they were moulting their small feathers ; and, 

 thirdly, a male which I shot (for I obtained no female) had no incubation-mark. It is true that 

 the testes were rather large; but neither this nor the swollen ovary observed by Liljeborg in the 

 female gives any sure proof that they were capable of breeding. My idea is that they had only 

 come to join the breeding-birds for the sake of company. 



" I found in the stomachs of many of the Little Gulls I examined not only insects but 

 chiefly small fishes, which they are continually catching in the lake. Very few had insects in 

 their stomachs ; but it is probable that later, when the Neuroptera, Phryganice, and Ephemera are 

 more abundant, they feed on these in preference, as is the case with the Black-headed Gull 

 [Larus ridibundus). 



"The flight of the Little Gull is peculiarly graceful and easy, and the slaty black under- 

 side of the wing gives them a characteristic appearance, so that they are easily recognizable. 



" The fresh-killed male is a most lovely bird. The bill is brownish red, gape and legs bright 

 red, the iris dark chestnut-brown, the head velvety black, &c. &c. 



" The female differs from the male in having the bill rather lighter-coloured, and the under 

 surface of the wings much lighter, and greyish black. The rose-tinge is quite as deep as in the 

 male — indeed, often deeper. The female is rather less in size than the male. Both the old males 

 and females had three incubation-spots — one in the middle of the abdomen, the others on the 

 sides. 



" On the 8th of June I left the breeding-places and hoped to find the young in down at 

 another place, but unfortunately this did not prove to be the case. I could not visit the breeding- 

 place near the fortress of Archangel, which is frequented by a few pairs ; but I saw the skins of a 

 couple which Mr. Iversen, of St. Petersburg, had procured there. On my return journey I again 



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