260 
ON THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF 
its comparison with the following species, I refer to the 
distinctive characters of this latter. 
Adult Synmyms, — Larus marinus, Lin. Syst. Nat. i, 
p. 225 ; Gmel. Syst. i. p. 598 ; Fab. Fauna Groen, 
p. 102 ; Lath. Ind. Orn. ii. p. 813 ; var. «. ; Temm. 
Man.d^Orn. ii. p. 760. — Black-headed Gull, Lath. GenL 
Syn. vi. p. 371; Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. p. 172; Arct. 
Zool. ii. p. 527. — G7^eat Black-hacked Gull:, Mont 
Orn. Diet. — Young. Wagel Gull, Lath. Syn. vi. p. 
375, Penn. Brit. Zool. ii. p. 182; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 
528. — Larus naevius, Gmel. Syst. i. p. 598 Larus 
marinus, var. y. Lath. Ind. ii. p. 814. 
Remarks. — The specific name marinus, usually applied 
to this gull, is a very absurd one, all gulls being essentially 
marini, and this having no claim to a peculiar appropria- 
tion of the term. The English name of Black-backed is 
also a very unfortunate one, as may be seen by referring to 
the description of the preceding and following species. 
3. Larus fuscus. Dusky Gull 
L. rostro superne ieniter aucto, dorso alisque cineras- 
centi-ardoisiaceis, pennis apice albis, prioribus quin- 
que nigris, extera sub apice albo notata, alis cauda 
longioribus. 
Adult, Winter- Plumage. — Beak moderate, deep, much 
compressed, slightly gibbous above, as well as below, lemon- 
yellow, a bright orpiment spot at the knob; length 21 
inches, depth of the knob fths. Naked circle of the eyes 
red-orange, iris very pale yellow. Feet bright gamboge- 
yellow, claws brownish-black; tarsus 2^ inches, toe 2J. 
