228 
Mr. C. A. Wrights Fifth Appendix to a 
Ph. roseus. 
ft. in. 
4 10f 
2 1 
Ph. erythrceus. 
Total length 
Legs 
Tarsus 
Wing- 
Beak, tip to margin of frontal feathers .. 0 6 
ft. in. 
3 6 
1 3 
0 9| 
1 2 
0 4f 
The plumage of the smaller bird is more generally diffused 
with pink, and the red on the wing-coverts is more extended 
and brighter. The tail-feathers are white, with a slight tinge 
of pink. The form of the beak is precisely the same as in 
Ph. roseus , only proportionately smaller. 
275. Larus leucophjEus (Lichst.). 
This bird appears to be the common representative of Larus 
argentatus in the Mediterranean, from which it chiefly differs 
in its darker mantle and ochreous-coloured legs; in L. ar¬ 
gentatus the legs are livid white. I had often remarked this 
difference; but it was not until my attention was drawn to 
the fact of the existence of Larus leucophceus in the Mediter¬ 
ranean by my friend Mr. Howard Saunders, who has devoted 
much attention to the Laridse, that I became aware of it being 
the common so-called “ Herring-Gull ” of Malta. I have 
since shot several specimens, besides having seen numerous 
examples flying about the harbours, close enough to note the 
colour of the legs; and all have proved to be Larus leucophceus. 
The presence here, therefore, of its near ally, Larus argen¬ 
tatus, requires confirmation; and my observations under this 
head (Ibis, 1864, p. 151) should be applied to Larus leu- 
cophceus; for it is very unlikely we should have L. argentatus 
here in the breeding-season, though it is not impossible both 
species may occur in the winter. Subjoined are the dimen¬ 
sions, taken in the flesh, of two birds shot at the mouth of the 
Grand Harbour on the 21st of February, 1871,—the first 
being an undoubted L. leucophceus , the second probably the 
same species in immature plumage. Both specimens were 
preserved. 
Adult ? . Length 1 ft. 11J in.; carpus to tip 1 ft. 5| in.; 
tarsus 2^ in .; beak to angle of gape 3 in.; middle toe same 
