LAUGHING GULL. 143 



edges sharp and direct, the tip rather obtuse but sharp-edged. Nasal groove 

 rather long and narrow; nostrils in its fore part, longitudinal, sub-medial, 

 large, linear-oblong, broader anteriorly, pervious. Lower mandible with the 

 angle long and pointed, the outline of its crura decurved anteriorly, that of 

 the ridge slightly concave and ascending, the sides erect and nearly flat. 



Head of moderate size. Neck of ordinary length. Body compact. Feet 

 rather long, stoutish; tibia bare below for three-fourths of an inch, covered 

 behind with narrow scutella; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with 

 numerous curved scutella, laterally with small oblong scales, posteriorly with 

 small scutella. Toes slender, of moderate length, covered above with 

 numerous scutella; first extremely small, second much shorter than fourth, 

 third two-twelfths of an inch longer than the latter; anterior toes connected 

 by reticulated webs, the outer and inner slightly marginate; claws small, 

 slightly arched, compressed, thin-edged, that of the middle toe with an 

 expanded inner margin. 



Plumage close, soft, and blended. Wings very long and pointed; prima- 

 ries tapering to a rounded point; first longest, second a twelfth of an inch 

 shorter, the rest rapidly diminishing; secondaries broad, incurvate, and 

 obliquely rounded, the inner straight and more elongated. Tail of moderate 

 length, even, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 



Bill and feet, as well as the margin of eyelids, and the inside of the mouth, 

 of a rich deep carmine; claws brownish-black. Iris bluish-black. The head 

 and a portion of the upper part of the neck all round, blackish lead-grey, 

 darker on the upper part of the head and along the posterior margin, which 

 descends lower in front, or to the extent of about two inches and a half from 

 the base of the lower mandible; two narrow white bands bordering the upper 

 and lower eyelids. Lower neck all round, the whole surface, the rump and 

 tail, pure white; but the fore part of the neck and the breast, down to the 

 legs, of a beautiful light rosy tint. The back and wings are greyish-blue, 

 with a very slight tinge of purple, excepting a large terminal portion of the 

 secondaries, and the tips of the primaries, which are white. The first pri- 

 mary is black, with a tinge of grey on the inner web at the base; the second 

 and third similar, with the grey more extended; on the fourth it extends 

 over two-thirds; the fifth is black only for an inch and a half; and on the 

 sixth the black is reduced to two spots near the end; the other parts and the 

 remaining primaries of the same general colour as the back. 



Length to end of tail 17 inches, to end of wings 20, to end of claws 17; 

 extent of wings 40|; wing from flexure 12j§; tail 5^; bill along the ridge 

 \\l, along the edge of lower mandible 2i; tarsus 2; hind toe and claw -^l 

 middle toe and claw 1^; outer toe and claw 1|; inner toe and claw 1 T 3 2. 



The female is precisely similar to the male, but considerably smaller. 



