BRITISH BIRDS 



members of the Order. They are spotted especially near the larger end with 

 chocolate-brown (not earthy brown)." 



Ross's Gull, in immature plumage, has the crown and nape tinged with grey, 

 the wings more or less marked with dull blackish-brown and buff, and the tail with 

 a dark terminal band. 



BONAPARTE'S GULL. 



Larus Philadelphia (Ord). 

 Plate 72. 



This Gull was first obtained in the British Islands in February 1848, when a 

 specimen was killed near Belfast ; another was shot on Loch Lomond in April 1850 ; 

 while some four or five have since been recorded in England, the last of these 

 in Sussex in 1913. 



Bonaparte's Gull breeds in the Arctic regions of America, and migrates south in 

 winter to the warmer parts of that Continent. 



Like our Black-headed Gull, it associates in colonies on fresh-water marshes in 

 the breeding season, but usually builds its nest, composed of twigs, moss, etc., on 

 bushes or trees. The eggs, generally three in number, are pale olive-brown, spotted 

 and blotched with blackish-brown. 



In winter the bird loses its dark hood. 



THE LITTLE GULL. 



Larus minutus, Pallas. 

 Plate 72. 



The Little Gull not infrequently visits our eastern and southern coasts from 

 autumn to spring, occasionally in some numbers. It breeds in Northern Europe, 

 and ranges eastward through Northern Asia to the Sea of Okhotsk, in winter 

 wandering southwards, when it reaches the Mediterranean, North Africa, and some- 

 times the United States of America. 



The nest is placed on wet masses of floating water-weeds, etc., among inland 

 marshes, and contains three or sometimes four eggs, which in ground-colour are 

 greenish or buffish-brown, spotted with dark brown. 



This diminutive species, smaller than any other Gull, does not appear to differ 

 from its congeners in its habits. 



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