104 MEDITERRANEAN BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



description of Savi; the figure, on the contrary, of 

 Savi appears to be Z. ridihundus, as the black cap in 

 L. melanoceplialus is deeper. The specimens before me 

 have the size and form of L. ridihundus, but they are 

 more compact, and have a stronger and higher beak; 

 the beak, the feet, and the border round the eyes are 

 the same. Dr. Michahellis, in the 'Isis' of 1838, No. 

 9, as well as Savi, state this border to be carmine 

 red. The whole body, except the black head and the 

 light lead-coloured mantle, pure white, the under parts 

 tinged with rosy red; the eyelids white." 



Count Miihle says the species is becoming rare in 

 Greece. It appears to breed there, but he did not 

 discover the nests. "It is not very shy, but becomes 

 cautious after being often shot at. It may be sought 

 for in spring, in swampy places, with the Terns, and, 

 like similar species, it feeds on insects." 



Dr. Lindermayer says he has only seen it in spring, 

 when it appears tolerably plentiful over harbours and 

 creeks. In the first week of May it disappears, and 

 he has reason to believe that it breeds on the coasts; 

 but he never got the eggs. "It does not appear to 

 come into the Archipelago." 



I quite agree with Dr. Lindermayer, that there is no 

 ground whatever for acceding to the proposition of 

 Count Miihle, to change the name of this bird to that 

 of Larus michahellei. 



Captain Loche records this species among the birds 

 of Algeria, but Mr. Tristram doubts whether it breeds 

 there. At all events he did not find any eggs. 

 Baldamus, however, (" Naumannia," 1853, p. 419,) says 

 that he had received eggs from the south of France 

 and Algeria; that they are found in Hungary without 

 any do^ibt, ("Naumannia," vol. ii., p. 81.) The dim en- 



