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ash ; upper parts generally dull white, clouded and barred with pale ashy brown, quills pale brownish 

 ash ; underparts pale brownish asb, indistinctly marked with dull white ; the flanks, lower abdomen, 

 and under tail-coverts much whiter than the rest of the underparts. 



Adult in winter. Resembles the summer plumage, but the head and neck are faintly striped with pale 

 brownish grey. 



Young in doivn. Resembles the young of tbe Herring-Gull, but is paler, having fewer and fainter dark 

 markings on the back. 



An inhabitant of the Arctic Regions of both the Old and New World, the present species of Gull 

 straggles southward only during the winter season, as a rule adult birds being less seldom seen 

 than immature ones in localities much below the arctic zone ; and its breeding-haunts are always 

 situated far north. 



It visits the shores of Great Britain during the autumn and winter, but never remains to 

 breed with us, though in the north of Scotland it is often seen quite late in the spring. It has 

 been met with sparingly on most parts of the English coasts down to the counties skirting the 

 Channel. Mr. Mansel-Pleydell, remarking that Yarrell speaks of it as having been killed at 

 Weymouth, adds that " Mr. Rolls had one to set up which had been shot in Weymouth Bay. 

 Mr. Thompson possesses one that was shot in Lodmoor, January 3rd, 1870. The Rev. C. 

 Torkington procured one from Abbotsbury, which had been caught on the shore in a Gull- 

 trap, and was brought to him alive. Another was shot in Poole Harbour, which is now in the 

 collection of Mr. Pike." I have known specimens to have been obtained on various parts of the 

 east and south coasts ; and Mr. Cordeaux says that it has been killed on several occasions during 

 the autumn and winter near Flamborough, immature birds being chiefly met with ; but a fine 

 adult specimen, now in the collection of Sir Hy. Boynton, Bart., was shot at Bridlington early 

 in January 1871. Towards the north it becomes commoner; and Mr. Hancock says, "on the 

 coasts of Northumberland and Durham it is an autumn and winter visitant, not uncommon on 

 the coast during the winter months in the immature plumage. Adults are rare, though I have 

 two or three that were shot in our district." Writing respecting its occurrence in Scotland, 

 Mr. Robert Gray says (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 490), " throughout the western counties of Scotland 

 this large Sea-Gull is in general less plentiful than on the eastern shores. It is seldom, indeed, 

 found roaming within the circle of the inner islands, but for the most part remains in the 

 vicinity of the Outer Hebrides. Nor is it even there a regular winter visitant in flocks, some 

 seasons passing with only a stray bird or two to represent the migratory companies that at other 

 times visit these islands. In the winter of 1862-63 considerable numbers were seen in North 

 Uist, frequenting chiefly the west side of the island and the Sound of Harris. In this district 

 (distinguished for large tracts of sand and mud at low tides) these flocks generally take up their 

 quarters, feeding on stranded fish and other garbage left by the sea. They seldom or never go 

 inland; but when rough northern storms are blowing the masses of foam over the sand, their 

 usual resting-place, they get on the wing and travel along the shore, visiting the sands of 

 Benbecula and South Uist, and returning to their headquarters when the weather moderates." 

 Since writing the above Mr. Gray, in a short article on tbe Sea-Gulls frequenting the estuary of 

 the Forth, gives an interesting account of a visit made by him in company with Mr. Harvie-Brown 



