416 
BIRDS OF BEITISH BURMAH. 
birds together ; but most of those which visit Burmah are immature. 
They fly very gracefully, plunging into the water at frequent • intervals 
and floating on its surface during the heat of the day. 
755. LARUS INNOMINATUS. 
THE LESSER BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
Larus innominatuS; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 394. 
Description. — Like Larus ichthyaetus, Pallas_, but very much smaller, 
more black on the primaries, and no white ring round the eye. (Hume.) 
This species was recently described by Mr. Hume under the above 
designation, and he is of opinion that it is the Larus ichthyaetus minor of 
Schlegel. He gives the dimensions of an adult female as being — wing 16*5 
inches, tail 7, tarsus 2' 51, bill from gape 3, culmen 2*7. 
The smaller size of this Gull and the absence of white feathers on the 
eyelids in the summer plumage appear sufiicient to separate this species 
from the preceding. It is, moreover, to be recognized by the greater 
amount of black on the primaries. Mr. Hume gives an elaborate table 
showing the distribution of this black on the quills ; but it will, I think, 
sufiice to quote what he says regarding the first primary : — " Outer web 
and nearly terminal half [ ? of the inner] " black, broad white band 
across both webs near tip, much less extended on outer web, small white 
tip.^^ 
This Gull was shot by Mr. Davison on the Ganjam coast at Gopalpore, 
and subsequently he observed it at Akyab. Mr, Hume also noticed it at 
the Sand Heads at the head of the Bay of Bengal. It will no doubt be 
found hereafter to have a much wider range. 
