THE COMMON AMERICAN GULL. 157 



all scutellate above, and connected by reticulated entire membranes, the 

 lateral toes margined externally with a narrow membrane. Claws small, 

 compressed, slightly arched, rather obtuse. 



The plumage in general is close, elastic, very soft and blended, on the back 

 rather compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute, the first quill longest, 

 the other primaries rapidly graduated; secondaries broad and rounded, the 

 inner elongated and narrow. Tail of moderate length, even, of twelve 

 rounded feathers. 



Bill marked opposite the angle with a broad transverse band of brownish- 

 black, between which and the base it is light greenish-yellow, the tips 

 orange-yellow. Edges of eyelids greenish-yellow; iris bright yellow. Feet 

 greenish-yellow, the webs tinged with orange; claws black. The general 

 colour of the plumage is pure white, excepting the back and wings, which 

 are light pearl-grey. The first six quills are black towards their extremities, 

 the first and second being almost entirely so, the sixth with only a small 

 spot. The tips of these feathers are white, that of the first having merely 

 a narrow margin of that colour, which gradually enlarges on the rest, the 

 first moreover has near the end a long patch of white, the second a smaller 

 one on the inner web. The proportional size of the white marks on the 

 outer primaries varies in individuals. The other quills and secondaries are 

 all white at the ends. 



Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 22^, to end of claws 20^; 

 extent of wings 4S; wing from flexure 15 \\ tail 6; bill along the back 1|, 

 along the edge 2-§, depth at the base yf, depth at the prominence \\ bare 

 part of the tibia f ; tarsus 2; middle toe 1 T 3 2, its claw ff ; hind toe ff, its 

 claw yL-. Weight 1^ lbs. 



Young bird, after first moult, shot on 26th November. 



Bill black, base of lower mandible and edges of upper towards the base, 

 livid flesh-colour. Edges of eyelids livid blue; iris hazel. Feet purplish- 

 grey; claws brownish-black. The general colour of the plumage is dull 

 white, mottled with greyish-brown beneath, on the back with large brown- 

 ish-black spots, the dark markings being central. Anterior to the eye is a 

 crescent of greyish-black. The outer primary quills are black, the two first 

 without white at the ends, the rest margined round the ends with that colour. 

 The abdominal and tibial feathers are white; the lower and upper tail-coverts 

 white, with brown spots. 



Length to end of tail 18-§, to end of wings 20^-, extent of wings 44^; 

 tarsus 2; middle toe 1 T 3 2, its claw fg. Weight 1 lb. 3 oz. 



On a rocky island on the coast of Labrador, where this bird was breeding 

 in great numbers, a comparatively small number of individuals only had the 

 bill marked with the black ring, the others, although precisely similar in 



