68 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
black. On this question Mr. Saunders writes: — “The principal 
characteristics of L. fuscus are the comparatively long tarsus 
and the small delicate foot. The colours of the mantle and 
wings are so variable in shade that the palest examples might 
be mistaken for Lams affinis, but for the large size and coarser 
foot of the latter. The blackest examples of L. fuscus are 
found indifferently in the Faeroes, Norway, Egy[)t, and on the 
Red Sea ; the lightest are, perhaps, from Scotland, and between 
the extremes there is every gradation.” The smaller size dis- 
tinguishes the present species from the Greater Black-backed 
or f lerring-Gulls, and, when adult, the colour of the tegs further 
serves to separate it from the former species. 
Range in Great Britain. — The present species is a resident 
throughout our islands, but is somewhat local in its breeding- 
haunts, though, where this Gull nests, it is generally in 
such numbers that it requires to be kept in check. Mr. 
Saunders observes; — “ In Scotland closely- packed settlements 
may be founds far too plentifully for game preservers — up to 
the northernmost Shetlands ; especially .along the western 
coast, within the shelter of the outer Hebrides, though on the 
far side of that grouj), the Herring-Gull predominates.” As 
regards Ireland, i\Ir. Usshcr’s note is as follows : — “ Breeds, 
often in large, nutnerous colonies, on the sea-cliffs and marine 
islands of Donegal, Londonderry, Antrim, Dublin, ^\’exford, 
Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, M.a3’o, and Sligo. It 
is the species of Gull most abundantly distributed on our 
coasts in the brecding-se.ason.” 
Range outside the British Islands. — “ Northern Europe, from the 
Dvvina westward to the Faeroes (but not in Iceland), and 
southward to the Mediterranean (breeding) ; in winter to the 
Canaries, Senegal, h'antee. Bonny, Egypt, Nubi.a, the Red Sea 
(.said to be resident on the last), to Fao on the Persian Gulf. 
Very rare in the North Ctispian, and practically not found east 
of the line of the Dwina, where the range of J.ariis affinis 
begins” (Saunders, Cat. R. Brit. Miis. xxv. p. 253). Occasion- 
ally it ranges farther eastward than the above-mentioned limits, 
as, since the above was written, Mr. Saunders has identified a 
specimen procured by Mr. H. L. Popham on the Yenesei as 
L. fuscus (Ibis, i8q 7, p. 106). 
