ICELAND GULL, 
503 
ICELAND GULL. 
In my earlier observations on this bird, I had adopted 
the opinion of two species existing, to which this name was 
in common applied in Zetland ; the one having to the other 
a relation analogous to that which exists between the Greater 
and Lesser black-backed Gulls. This opinion was founded 
chiefly on the great inferiority of size ; greater elegance and 
delicacy of form ; the different markings of the plumage, 
and the livelier and more active habits — of the smaller 
variety. But as I had never quite assured myself of 
having seen it in its mature plumage, and very seldom, till 
lately, having fallen in with even the young, I was rather 
inclined to believe, that what I had conceived to be a new 
species, was merely an accidental variety, or the result of 
my own inaccurate observation. Last spring, however, I 
had an opportunity of satisfying myself of the correctness 
of my first views, by obtaining possession of an individual 
of this species ; it was killed in Baltasound in April last ; 
it was a female, though the sex was not very conspi- 
cuous. 
This specimen, which was a very interesting one, and in 
a stage of plumage exhibiting very aptly the young and 
adult appearance, was sent off from Zetland, last October, 
to this city, for the inspection of the Society; but the 
vessel by which it was forwarded, has been unfortunately 
lost. Its size was rather smaller than that of the female 
Herring-Gull, while the Great Iceland Gull, described in 
the last part of the Wernerian Memoirs, is often larger 
than even the Larus Marinus. The primaries were white, 
still, however, retaining on their exposed edges the slight 
livid hue characteristic of the immature young. The under 
part of the body was white ; the wing-coverts, scapulars. 
