COMMON GULL. 
187 
high, yet they can very well be seen with a common 
telescope. 
The Common Gull measures fifteen inches from the tip of 
the beak to the end of the tail and feet ; the wings reach 
two inches and a half beyond the tail, and measure twelve 
inches and a half from the carpus to the tip ; the beak from 
the forehead, thirteen lines ; from the gape, one inch seven 
lines. 
The young bird, after the first autumnal moult, has the 
head white ; before the eye is a blackish grey triangular 
spot; the forehead, crown, nape, car-coverts, and back and 
sides of the neck are finely marked with dusky grey streaks; 
the lower part of the neck is surrounded by a band of cine¬ 
reous dusky transverse spots, which extend over the upper- 
part of the breast, and continue over the sides and flanks ; 
the middle of the breast is white with a tinge of pearl grey, 
as well as all the under parts, including the basal half of the 
tail. The back and most of the upper plumage, is greyish 
blue ; on the scapulars and wing-coverts are some few feathers 
with dusky centres, and yellowish brown and white edges, 
the greater wing-coverts more bluish ash, with a brownish 
bar, and terminated with white ; the tertials are dusky, with 
yellowish brown and white borders ; the quills are dusky 
black, with lighter edges towards the tips, the tips of the 
tail feathers the same, but terminated with white; the 
outer feathers having the least portion of black. The eyes 
are dark brown, the eyelids yellowish brown ; the beak 
dusky at the tip, and flesh-coloured at the base ; the legs 
and feet are flesh red, with pale blue joints; the claws 
dusky. 
This description is taken from a fresh specimen shot 
at Fair Mile Common, near Cobham, in Surrey, Dec. 26, 
1836. 
