279 
1921.] Birds of Tasso and adjoining Islands . 
*Numenius arquatus arquatus. Curlew. 
Abounds along mud-flats. 
Numeiuus phaeopus phaeopus. Whimbrel. 
A very common bird, whose numbers become much reduced 
by the end of April. A few were seen on 23 May, whilst a 
single bird was seen near Freetown on 20 June. 
Squatarola sqnatarola. Grey Plover. 
A common species, retreating at high water to the 
mangrove-branches in company with other Waders. 
Arenaria interpres interpres. Turnstone. 
Common along the shores at low water. When the tide 
rises they, as well as other Waders, take refuge in the tall 
mangroves, where one may find lots of fifty or more all 
huddled together. 
* Larus cirrhocephalus. Grey-headed Gull. 
The most common Gull. Very numerous at Freetown 
during the winter, but they nearly all depart for their 
breeding-grounds in the interior in April. 
*Larus fuscus affinis. British Lesser Black-backed Gull. 
It is obviously the light-backed race of this Gull which 
occurs sparingly off Tasso Island. Common at Freetown 
as late as 11 May, at which date only two or three used, 
in company with a single Lams cirrhocephalus , to visit our 
ship daily. No actual specimen was obtained during this 
visit. 
Larus fuscus fuscus. Continental Lesser Black-backed 
Gull. 
A single specimen of the dark-backed race of this Gull 
was obtained on 11 May at Freetown. 
[The specimen obtained on 11 May is undoubtedly an 
example of the dark-backed race, Larus fuscus fuscus. It is, 
of course, far out of the supposed range of this species, 
which is usually considered to be Scandinavia and eastwards 
(breeding). In winter it visits the eastern Mediterranean,- 
