316 
LARIM. 
ture, so as to exhibit a uniform mass of one tint ; primaries and 
secondaries “ broadly tipped with white ; inside of wings deep 
blackisli-grey tail pure white ; bill black ; inside mouth dull 
orange ; irides black with brownish tinge ; tarsi, toes, and webs 
of feet, both on upper and under side, of the same uniform hue 
of pale salmon-colour. Its weight rather exceeded 3-| oz. It 
proved to be a male on dissection. Its stomach contained the 
remains of Crustacea, and two of the Rissoa ulva. 
This gull was preserved by Mr. Darragh, the curator of the 
Belfast Museum, who possesses a critical knowledge of our native 
birds generally, and who, when visiting Strangford Lough in 
January 1818, a few weeks after having set up the specimen, saw 
another of them, both on the 18th and 19tli of that month, at 
Bough Island. It was also adult, as denoted by its pure white 
tail. The diminutive size of the bird first attracted his attention, 
and he had the advantage of seeing it very near both on wing and 
on the ground. The dark colour of the under side of the wings 
was conspicuous ; the tail was square at the end (not cuneate as 
in L. JRossii ,* nor forked as in L. Sabini). The upper surface 
of the wing, including the primaries, was particularly remarked 
to be wholly of a light colour. My informants fear of injuring 
the bird as a specimen with the large shot in his gun prevented 
him from firing at it when seen the first day ; on the second day, 
he had crept for a long way — after the manner of the deer-stalker, 
as so graphically described by Mr. Scrope — and though enabled 
to observe it attentively for some time from behind stones on the 
beach, distant only about fifteen or twenty paces from the wished- 
for victim, he could not bring his gun to bear upon without 
alarming it. In his attempt to shoot it, the bird took wing; 
but the rough nature of the ground prevented his steadying him- 
self so as to get even a parting shot at it. 
I have no doubt of the occurrence of another bird of this 
species near Kirkcubbin, Strangford Lough. About the beginning 
* This species is noticed under the supposition that it may in winter lose the 
black collar, which would otherwise distinguish it. 
