10^ Dr Fleming on the Arctic and Shna Gulls, 
The tongue is fleshy and bluntly bifid. The middle of the palate, 
and a ridge on each side, are covered with cartilaginous reflected 
teeth. The trachea at the division of the bronchise is furnished with 
a small bony plate. Rectum with too long broad vermiform ap- 
pendages. Length 18^ inches, breadth 42 inches, weight 12^ 
ounces. 
The preceding description is that of a male bird shot in Sep- 
tember. Considerable variation, however, -is observed in the 
plumage of these birds. In some specimens, nearly similar in 
other respects to the one which we have described, the yellow- 
ish ring of the neck is wanting. In others, this ring is white ; 
the chin also greyish- white, mottled with gi’eyish-black ; and the 
remainder of the under side white, including the cheeks. In 
some individuals of the last variety the vent is dusky. The 
birds wdiich have been described by Eritish authors, under the 
title of Blach-toed gull., (Larus crepidatus,) are now consider- 
ed as varieties of this species, or rather as young birds in the 
first year's plumage. 
The Black-toed described by Pennant, from the com- 
munication of Dr Lysons to the Royal Society, Phil. Trans, 
vol. lii. p. 135, has not come under the inspection of any recent 
observer. 
“ This species (Brit. Zool. ii. p. 532. No, 244. tab. 86.) weighs 
eleven ounces. Its length is fifteen inches ; its breadth thirty-nine. 
The bill is one inch and a half long; the upper part covered Avith a 
brown cere ; the nostrils like those of the former (Skua) ; the end 
black and crooked. The feathers of the forehead come pretty low 
on the bill. The head and neck are of a dirty white, the hind part 
of the latter plain, the rest marked with oblong du-sky spots. The 
breast and belly are white, crossed with numerous dusky and yel- 
lowish lines. The feathers on the sides and the vent are barred 
transversely with black and white. The back, scapulars, coverts of 
the wings and tail are black, beautifully edged with white or pale 
rust colour. The shafts and tips of the quill-feathers are white. The 
exterior web and upper half of the interior w^eb black, but the lower 
part of the latter white. The tail consists of tAvelve black feathers 
tipt with white ; the two middle of which are near an inch longer 
than the others : the shafts are Avhite, and the exterior web of the 
outmost feather is spotted with rust colour. The legs are of a blu- 
ish lead colour ; the lower part of the toes and webs black.” — Taken 
near Oxford. 
The black-toed gull described by Bewick, in his valuable 
work on British Birds, is by no means rare. In a specimen shot 
,;m October, he infcumis us, that the whole upper and under 
