THE HERRING-GULL. 



751 



as adult, outer webs of some outer primaries and of secondaries 

 sometimes freckled brown. 



Fourth winter and summer. — Like adult. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 410-450 mm. (juv. 400- 

 425), tail 160-180, tarsus 63-68, bill from feathers 48-55 (juv. 48- 

 54) (12 British measured). $ wing 390-425 (juv. 375-400), bill 47- 

 53 (juv. 44-51). Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed, and about two- 

 thirds primary-coverts, 2nd longest, 3rd usually as long but occa- 



*; ^ 



V 



Middle tail-feathers of Herring-gulls (Larus a. argentatus) : 1. 1st winter. 2. 2nd 

 winter. 3. 3rd winter. 



[p/I'llMI^'lKKI 1 ' 



% Vv 



sionally 3-5 mm. shorter, 4th 15-24 shorter, 5th 35-50 shorter. 

 Rest of structure as Bonaparte's Gull but tarsus and bill compara- 

 tively strong and tip of upper mandible more strongly curved 

 downwards and angle of gonys more prominent. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad.) deep yellow, angle bright vermilion, tip 

 whitish bone-colour, gape orange-yellow, (juv. and 1st winter) 

 brown-black, base of lower mandible pinkish-horn, (1st summer — 

 2nd winter) base of both mandibles pale brown or pinkish, (2nd 

 summer) some orange on angle, (3rd winter) base bone-colour tinged 

 yellow, towards tip of upper pale yellow, angle marked with orange 

 and black, (3rd summer) like adult but with slight subterminal dark 

 mark ; legs and feet (ad.) flesh -pink but front of tarsus and joints 

 whitish-flesh, (juv. to 2nd winter) pale brownish-flesh ; iris (ad.) 

 very pale lemon, (juv. to 2nd winter) dark olive-brown, (3rd winter) 



