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O R D. III. GEN. III. GULL. 



SPE. V. BLACK-HEADED GULL. 

 PI. 213. 



Larus ridibundus. Lin. Syft. I. p. 225. 



La Mouctte rieufe a pattes rouges. Brif. Orn. VI. p. 196. 



This bird weighs about eleven ounces; is in length fifteen inches; in 

 breadth, thirty-feven. The bill is ftout, curved at the end, and of a chocolate 

 red colour: eyes, hazel: edges of the eye-lids, orange, with a white fpot on 

 each : head, black : back, and wings, aih-colour : neck, under part, and tail, 

 white : edges and tips of the quill feathers black : legs, the fame colour as the 

 bill. 



The female is diftinguimable from the male by the brownnefs of her head, 

 and of the feathers from the top of the fhoulder to the lefs quill feathers; and 

 having the end of the tail black. The young birds do not get the dark colour 

 on their heads until the latter end of the fummer they are bred; but the rudi- 

 ments of this colour may be feen on turning the feathers of the head upwards. 

 The diftinguifhing character of the young of this very numerous fpecies is, that 

 the bill and legs are nearly of the fame colour as thofe of the adult birds. 



The note of this gull refembles a kind of hoarfe laugh, which diftinguifhes 

 it from the others. It breeds on the low lands adjoining the fea, making its 

 neft on the ground, and fometimes adding fea-weed, which it finds drifted on 

 fhore. It generally lays three eggs : for which fee PI. XLVI. Fig. 2. 



