BRITISH BIRDS*. ' 
m 
greater wing coverts, and the firfl and fecondary 
quills are dulky, and more diftindly tipped with 
rufty fpots. The tail confifts of twelve feathers, 
the two middle ones longer than the reft ; it is of 
the fame colour as the quills, except at the con- 
cealed part of its root, which is white. The legs 
are flender, and of a lead colour ; the thighs and 
part of the joint, and the toes, black : the webs are 
of the fame colour, excepting a fmall fpace between 
the firft joints of the toes, which is white. 
The Black-toed Gull defcribed by Mr Pennant dif- 
fers from this in fome particulars : he fays “ the head 
and neck are of a dirty white : the hinder part of 
the latter plain, the reft marked with oblong dirty 
fpots : the breaft and belly are white, crofted with 
numerous duiky and yellowifli lines : the feathers 
on the fides and vent are barred tranfverfely with 
black and white: the back, fcapulars, coverts of 
the wings, and tail, are black, beautifully edged 
with white or pale ruft-colour : the fhafts and tips 
of the quill feathers are white : the exterior web, 
and upper half of the interior web, black; but the 
lower part of the latter white : the tail confifts of 
twelve black feathers tipped with white.’’ The 
male is faid to be blacker and darker than the 
female. 
Thefe birds are not common on the Britifli 
ftiores, nor, although widely difperfed over the face 
pf the ocean, are they numerous any where. They 
