732 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Distinguished from other British 

 Gulls by its small size and in adult by blackish under -wing. 



Field -characters. — Adults in breeding -plumage suggest miniature 

 Black-headed (or still more Mediterranean Black-headed) Gulls, 

 but are at once distinguishable by their much smaller size (approach- 

 ing Common Tern), entire absence of black on primaries, and dark 

 under wing-surface, which is noticeable in flight. From Sabine's 

 Gull, which is also quite small, it is distinguishable by its square 

 tail, red bill and feet, and former also shows much black on front 

 edge of wing. Immature birds lack dark under wing-surface, but 

 much smaller dimensions distinguish them from our common 

 species, and shape of tail from Sabine's, while Black-headed 

 Gull at all ages has broad white margin to front edge of 

 wing. (F.C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds usually in colonies, sometimes in com- 

 pany with Terns and sometimes with Black-headed Gulls, either in 

 tussocks in shallow water or on low sandbanks and islands. Nest. — 

 Carelessly built of dead sedges, rushes, Scirpus, bits of reed, etc., 

 among rushes or reeds, either in or close to water. Eggs. — 2 to 3 

 normally, 4 or even 5, but quite exceptionally ; not unlike those of 

 Common Tern. Ovate, yellowish -buff to olive-brown in ground 

 and spotted or blotched with dark brown and ashy shellmarks. 

 Average of 119 eggs, 41.51x30.11. Max.: 45.8x30.9 and 45x32. 

 Min. : 37x29 and 40.9x28.1 mm. Breeding-season. — Usually end 

 May and early June, exceptionally mid-May in Central Europe : 

 first fortnight of June in Gulf of Finland. Incubation. — By both 

 sexes. Period unknown. Single brooded. 



Food. — Insects (coleoptera, diptera, and probably neuroptera), 

 but largely small fish and also small Crustacea (shrimps) and sand- 

 worms. Barley found in stomach of a British killed specimen. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Irregular autumn and winter- 

 visitor, occasionally spring and summer. Chiefly east coast 

 England (sometimes numerous as 1866 and 1868 in Yorks., and 

 winter 1869-70 on east coast), fairly frequent south coast, rarer 

 Wales and northwards to 0. Hebrides and Shetlands, not so rare 

 east coast Scotland. Occasional inland. About twelve Ireland, 

 chiefly near Dublin and Belfast, but one Londonderry, two Galway, 

 one Meath. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in north-east Europe from 

 northern W. and E. Prussia, Denmark, Gotland, irregularly Oland, 

 Gulf of Bothnia, central and northern Russia and Siberia east to 

 Sea of Ochotsk. After breeding-season on seashores south to 

 Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, in east to mouth of Amur, 

 casual India (once), interior of central Europe, Faeroes, U.S. 

 America (three), Mexico, Bermudas (twice). 



