162 
THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 
inches and a half long ; the nostril is placed rather low ; 
the eyes are black ; above and below each eye there is a 
spot of white; the head and part of the neck are black, 
remainder of the neck, breast, whole lower parts, tail- 
coverts, and tail, pure white; the scapulars, wing-coverts, 
and whole upper parts, are of a fine blue ash colour ; the 
first five primaries are black towards their extremities ; the 
secondaries are tipped largely with white, and almost all 
the primaries slightly ; the bend of the wing is white, and 
nearly three inches long ; the tail is almost even ; it con- 
sists of twelve feathers, and its coverts reach within an inch 
and a half of its tip ; the wings extend two inches beyond 
the tail; a delicate blush is perceivable on the breast and 
belly. 
The head of the female is of a dark dusky slate colour; 
in other respects, she resembles the male. 
We are inclined (says Wilson) to the opinion, that the 
three Gulls of Latham, viz., the Black-headed Gull, the 
Red-legged Gull, and the Laughing Gull, are one and 
the same species, the very bird which we have been 
describing, the difference in their markings arising from 
their age and sex. We feel emboldened to this declaration 
from the circumstance of having ourselves shot Gulls which 
corresponded almost precisely to those of the above author, 
of the same habits, the same voice, and which were found 
associating together. 
In some individuals, the crown is of a dusky gray ; the 
