246 
LARINvE. larus. 
304. Larus argentatus. Silvery Gull. 
Bill two inches and a fourth along the ridge, which is much 
decurved toward the end, nine-twelfths high at the angle, 
which is prominent ; tarsus two inches and a half long ; wings 
surpassing the tail by an inch and a half. In winter, the 
bill yellow, the lower mandible with an orange-red patch 
toward the end ; the margins of the eyelids yellow ; the feet 
flesh-coloured ; the back and wings light bluish-grey, very 
slightly tinged with purple ; the quills largely tipped with 
white, the outer six in part black, two of them with a large 
white spot toward the end ; the head and hind-neck white, 
with light brown streaks ; all the other parts pure white. 
In summer, the bill pure yellow, the patch on the lower 
mandible bright orange, inclining to carmine, margins of eye- 
lids yellow ; head and neck pure white ; the other parts as 
in winter. Young with the bill brownish-black, paler at the 
base of the lower mandible ; edges of eyelids dusky ; feet 
purplish flesh-colour ; head and neck greyish-white, streaked 
with greyish-brown ; lower parts greyish- white, spotted with 
greyish-brown; upper parts variegated with dark greyish- 
brown and brownish-white, the feathers being margined with 
the latter ; the quills greyish-black, as is the tail, unless at 
the base, where it is barred with white. 
Male, 23, 54, 18, 2£, 2|, 2 T %, T \. Female, 22, 52. 
The Silvery, or Herring Gull, as it is also called, is consi- 
derably larger than the Yellow-footed Gull, and is by far the 
most numerous of our larger Gulls. Its flight is strong, 
buoyant, direct, and unwavering, when it is proceeding to- 
ward a distant place. When engaged with a shoal of fry, it 
hovers over the water, stretches upwards and vibrates its 
wings, lets down its feet so as to touch and sometimes pat 
the water, and picks up its prey without alighting. Its cry 
is loud and shrill on such occasions, but at other times re- 
sembles the sound of laughter. During tempestuous weather 
it often flies inland. It breeds, usually in great numbers, in 
small unfrequented islands, or on remote rocky coasts, forming 
a bulky nest, and laying usually three eggs, averaging two 
inches and three-fourths in length, an inch and eight- twelfths 
in breadth, of various tints of grey or olivaceous-brown, 
clouded or spotted with dark-brown and purplish-grey. 
Herring Gull. 
Larus argentatus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, 600. — Larus mar in us, 
var. B. Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 814. — Larus argentatus, Temm. 
Man. d’Ornith ii. 764. — Larus argentatus, Silvery Gull, Mac- 
Gillivray, Brit. Birds, v. 
