Lards

LARDS.

Bill strong, compressed sideways, upper mandible hooked at tip and reaching beyond lower; nostrils longitudinal; tail square ; hind toe and claw well marked ; sexes alike, young different from adults ; nest usually bulky, on cliffs or on ground; eggs 2-4, variable, some dull white in ground colour, others dull olivaceous or ochreous, spotted and blotched with different shades of brown.

Larus marinus L. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. Fr. Goeland a manteau noir ; Ger. Mantelrnowe ; //a/. Mugnaiaccio ; Swed. Hafstrut.

? Back, scapulars and wing coverts slaty black ; head, hind neck, tail, tips of scapulars and underparts white ; primaries black, 1st primary with white tip and grey inner web, white tip about 6o m.m. long ; 2nd primary has white tip crossed by a black bar ; other primaries are white tipped. Bill massive, yellow, lower mandible orange red at angle. Eye-rim vermilion, iris brown. Legs and feet pale flesh colour. Wing 465-5t5. Tarsus 71-79. Bill 52-63. in winter, head and neck are streaked brownish grey. Young : above light brown mottled with white ; head and neck streaked ; breast and abdomen dull bully white ; bill horn colour. Do not attain maturity till fourth year.

Breeds.—Greenland, Iceland, Faroes, N. Russia, Baltic Provinces, Sweden, Gothland, Norway, British Isles and occasion ally N.W. France ; also in east North America. Partly resident ; wanders in winter south to Mediterranean, Caspian and Black Seas, Canaries and Azores, and in America south to Florida and Cuba.

Larus argentatus argentatus Pontoppid:m. HERRING GULL. Fr. Goeland argente ; Ger. Silbermowe Swed. Gratrut. Head, neck, tips of scapulars, tail and underparts white ; mantle pale blue grey ; primaries and secondaries white tipped, ist primary black with grey inner edge, in the next five black diminishes and grey increases ; 1st and 2nd primaries in addition have white patches or " mirrors" near tip ; inner primaries are grey like secondaries. Bill pale yellow, with orange red patch on lower mandible at angle. Eye•rim yellow, iris pale yellow.

Legs and feet pale flesh. In winter, crown and hind neck are streaked pale brown. 395-445. Tarsus 58-66. Bill 41-55. Voting : light brown mottled white, primaries uniform brown, tail white barred brown, bill black, legs slaty grey, often not distinguishable from young of "L. fuscus" ; maturity is attained in fourth year.

Preeds.—Farocs, British Isles, N. Europe from White Sea, N. Finmark and N. Norway south to Baltic and North Sea Coasts and West Coast of France ; also Greenland and Arctic N. America ; (not in Iceland). To a great extent resident, some wander in winter to Mediterranean, Caspian and Black Seas, and in America south to Gulf of Mexico.

L. argentatus cachinnans Pallas. Like typical "argentatus" but differs in mantle being slightly darker, eye-rim orange red, legs and feet flesh coloured in young, bright yellow in adult, bill brighter, and in winter head and hind neck being white unstreaked (rarely faintly streaked).

Breeds. — Azores, Canaries, Madeira, Atlantic Coasts of Morocco, Spain and Portugal, Mediterranean Coasts from Gibraltar to Dardanelles and Egypt, Danube mouth, Black and Caspian Seas, S. Russia on lower Volga and north to Orenburg, and in C. Asia to Baikal Sea. Mostly resident. Occurs in winter \Vest Coast of Africa south to Cape de Verde and on east side to Arabia, Persia and India. Rare in Britain.

Larus fuscus fuscus L. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. Ger. HeringsmOwe ; Ital. Zafferano ; Swed.

summer. Head, hind neck, tips of scapulars and secondaries, upper tail coverts, tail and underparts white ; upper parts dark slate, becoming browner in worn plumage ; primaries black with white tips, on the 1st about 15-20 m.m. in extent, on the 2nd interrupted and smaller with a "mirror" inside the tip. In winter, head and neck streaked dark brown. Bill yellow, red at angle of lower mandible. Eye-rim orange red. Iris pale yellow. Legs and feet yellow. Wing 415-450. Tarsus 58-66. Bill 47-54 (II.). Young are somewhat darker than young of "argentatus" but often not distinguishable.

Breeds.—Scandinavia and N. Russia from Murman Coast and White Sea south to Baltic Provinces and Islands in Baltic but not east of Northern Dvina ; possibly also in N. Italy. Some winter in Baltic, majority apparently migrate due south overland, being rare to westward ; occur abundantly in E. Mediterranean in winter, and at same season in Red Sea, Persian Gulf and E. Africa. Have been reported off British Coasts and Coasts of Spain in autumn on passage and some probably winter in Western Mediterranean along with the lighter-coloured Western race.

L. fuseus affinis Reinhardt. 8 Like typical "fuscus" but back slaty grey instead of slaty black, and never become browner in worn plumage. \Ving 390-445. Tarsus 58-66. Bill usually the larger.

. Breeds. —Faroes, British Isles, Channel Islands, W. France, Moorish Coast, Canaries, and Azores. Largely migratory, some winter in Britain, majority pass south to Coasts of Spain, extreme W. Mediterranean, Canaries, Azores, and W. Coast of Africa south to Niger mouth.

The breeding bird from the Azores has recently been separated as "L. fuscus atlantis" Dwight on account of its paler grey back.

L. fuseus taimyrensis Buturlin. In plumage like "affinis" but larger. Wing 425-460, mostly 440-460 (H.).

Breeds.—From Lower Dvina and Petchora in N. Russia and Kolguev Island east through Siberia to Taimyr Peninsula. Recorded from Nova Zembla and Waigatz. Occurs in winter on W. Coast of India, and Coasts of Arabia and E. Africa.

Larus canus canus L. COII?1QN GULL. Fr. Goeland cendre ; Ger. Sturmmowe ; Ital. Gaviana ; Swed. Fiskmase.

summer. Head, neck, tips of scapulars and secondaries, tail, and underparts white ; mantle pale blue grey ; primaries as in "argentatus," white tip of 1st primary 50-60 m.m. long. Bill, legs and feet greenish yellow. Eye-rim vermilion. Iris dark brown. In winter, head and neck are streaked grey brown. Wing 325-360. Tarsus 47-52. Bill 29-33. Young are distinguished from young "argentatus" by small size and white tail with a subterminal brown band about 5o m.m. wide.

Breeds.—Scotland, Ireland, England (very rarely), Frisian Islands, Jutland, Scandinavia, N. Germany, Baltic Provinces, Russia from Kola Peninsula south to Don, Caucasus, and Caspian ; also in Siberia to the Yenisei. Partly migratory ; many winter in Britain ; occurs in winter on Coasts of C. and S. Europe to Mediterranean ; occasional in Canaries, Egypt, and Persian Gulf.

Larus hyperboreus Gunnerus. GLAUCOUS GULL. Ger. Eismowe ; Swed. H vit-trot.

d 9 summer. Above very pale bluish grey ; head, neck, tips of scapulars, tail coverts, tail and underparts white ; no black in wing, quills very pale grey, outer web 1st primary white. Bill yellow, at angle of lower mandible red. Eye-rim orange red, iris yellow. Legs and feet pinkish flesh. In winter, head and neck are streaked brown. Wing d 9 Tarsus 65-76. Bill d 53-57, 9 48-55. Young : above dull white barred with pale brown ; beneath pale greyish brown ; no black on quills, bill blackish brown. In second year, creamy white with faint mottlings of light brown ; adult plumage is attained in fourth year.

L'reeds.—Circumpolar ; Greenland, Spitzbergen, Jan Mayen, Franz Joseph Land, Iceland, Kolguev, \Vaigatz, Nova Zembla, Coasts of N. Norway and N. Russia ; and Arctic Asia and America. In winter, occurs in small numbers on W. European Coasts south to E. Prussia, France (seldom), N.\V. Spain (rare); occasionally to Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas ; and similarly in E. Asia and E. and W. Coasts of N. America.

Larus leucopterus Faber. ICELAND GULL.

9 Like "hyperboreus" but smaller ; stages of plumage similar. Wing 395-43o. Tarsus 56-64. Bill 40-44. Bill greenish yellow, at angle lower mandible a red patch. Iris huffy yellow. Legs and feet pale leaden pinkish.

fireeds.—Arctic America (Alaska to Greenland), Jan Mayen, Nova Zembla (once recorded). Occurs in winter regularly in Iceland, fairly often N. British Coasts and Coasts of North Sea, rarer in \V. France and Baltic Sea ; and in America south to New York State and Great Lakes.

Larus audouini I'ayraudeau. AUDOUIN'S GULL. lieil. Gabbiano torso.

8 4 summer. Ilead, neck, tail, and underparts white ; mantle and central upper tail coverts very pale grey ; under wing coverts and flanks light grey, axillaries white ; primaries with white tips, 1st primary with white "mirror." Eye-rim red. Iris yellowish brown. Bill coral red, tip yellow, black band at angle. Legs and feet olive green. Wing 395-415. Tarsus 55-6o. Bill 45-51 (H.). In winter, head and neck are striped dark grey.

Resident.—Mediterranean from Gibraltar east to the Levant. Breeds, Columbretes (Spain), Sardinia, Cyclades, Syrian Coast. Has been reported on Sea of Galilee and near Dead Sea in winter and also on Egyptian Coast.

Larus gelastes Keyserling and Blasius. SLENDER-BILLED GULL. I/al. Gabbiano roseo.

? summer. Head, neck, tail, and underparts white, last with rosy tinge ; back, scapulars, upper and under wing coverts, axillaries, secondaries, and inner primaries light grey ; 1st primary white with tip and most of outer web black ; and, 3rd, and 4th have outer web white and inner web brownish grey, next three are grey and all have black tips. Bill long, slender, red. Eye rim, legs and feet red. Iris white. In winter, the rosy tinge is less and sides of head are spotted grey. Wing 312-32o. Tarsus 48-53. Bill 39-42 (H.). Young are like young of " L. ridibundus" but legs and feet are yellow and bill is yellow with black tip.

Breeds.—S. Spain, Dobrudscha, Sea of Azov, Khirghiz Steppes, Lower Egypt, and in Asia Minor and Persia. Outside breeding season has been met with over entire Mediterranean, and down W. Coast of Africa to within the tropics ; also Black and Caspian Seas, Arabia, and Persian Gulf to India.

Larus ichthyaetus Pallas. GREAT BLACK - HEADED GULL.

summer. Head, throat, and foreneck black ; hind neck, rump, tail and underparts white ; back, scapulars, upper wing coverts and secondaries light grey, the last with white tips ; primaries white, the 1st with outer web and a bar on inner web near tip black, the next five with subterminal black bars. Bill orange, in front of angle a black band. Legs and feet yellow.

Wing (3` 450-480. Tarsus ,S 81-86, ? 67-71. Bill ct 63-71, ? 3i-6o. In winter, head white slightly streaked brownish black ; the white inner webs of primaries distinguish it then from " L. a. cachinnans." Young : primaries brown with white spots near tips of inner webs and on both webs of 1st, tail white with dark brown band.

Breeds.—S. Russia (Sea of Azov, Lakes of Sarpa Steppes), Caspian Sea ; and in W. and C. Asia. Migrates ; occurs on passage and in winter Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt, and in S.W. Asia to India. Of very rare occurrence in C. and W. Europe, twice recorded in England.

Larus melanocephalus TeMlninCk. ADRIATIC GULL. Gabbiano corallino.

? summer. Head, throat, and foreneck black ; above and below eye a narrow white patch ; mantle very pale grey ; primaries white, inclined to greyish towards the base, outer web of 1st primary black for of its length ; tail, outer secondaries, lower neck, and underparts white. Bill red, stouter than in "ridibundus." Legs and feet red. Iris brown. In winter, head is white striped ashy grey. Wing 296-318 (II.). Tarsus about 5o. Bill 35. Young : brown above with white edges to feathers, primaries brown with greater part of inner web white, tail with a terminal black band, bill black, yellowish towards base.

Breeds.—Black Sea and E. Mediterranean (Greece and Asia Minor) and possibly Spain. Resident, chiefly met with in E. Mediterranean but also occurs on Spanish and Portuguese Coasts ; occasional in Adriatic, and rarely further north in Europe to N.W. France and Britain.

Larus philadelphia (Ord). BONAPARTE'S GULL.

6 ? summer. Head dark slaty grey, round eye a white ring interrupted in front ; back, scapulars, and upper wing coverts pale bluish grey ; rest of plumage white, underparts tinged rosy ; 1st primary black on outer web towards point, and for 15 m.m. at tip, rest white ; 2nd primary white with black tip ; 3rd and 4th grey on inner web. In winter, head and neck are white, spotted dark grey on crown and nape, and with slaty grey patch behind ear. Bill black. Legs and feet orange red. Wing 267-274 (H.).

breeds. Arctic America. Rarely occurs in W. Europe, recorded once I eligoland, six to seven times British isles.

Larus minutus Pallas. LITTLE GULL. Ger. Zwergrnowe ; I/al. Gabbianello ; Swed. Dvargmas.

9 summer. Head and throat black ; neck, upper back, tail, and underparts white, rosy tinged on breast and abdomen ; scapulars, lower back, and upper wing coverts light grey ; under wing coverts slaty grey, primaries above light grey with white tips, below slaty grey with tips white. Bill dark red. Legs and feet red. In winter, head is white, occiput and a spot behind eye grey. Wing 213-230. Tarsus 25-27. Bill 20-22. Young : above brown with white tips, secondaries bordered white on outer webs, tail with brown terminal band, bill dark brown, legs and feet flesh colour.

Breeds.—Russia from Archangel south to Moscow, abundant on Lake Ladoga ; Baltic Provinces, Gulf of Bothnia, Sweden (Upland and Jemtland), Gothland and Oland, N.E. Prussia, Denmark, and widely in N. Asia. Migrates ; occurs on passage and in winter on North Sea Coasts and in Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, and also in E. Asia. Irregular visitor to British Isles. Has occurred Faroes, Bermuda, and States of New York and Maine.

Larus ridibundus ridibundus L. BLACK-HEADED GULL. Fr. Goeland rieur ; Ger. LachmOwe ; Rd/. Gabbiano comune ; Swed. Skrattmase.

6 9 summer. Head, throat, and foreneck sooty brown ; eye-rim white, interrupted in front ; hind neck, tail, and'underparts white ; back, scapulars, and upper wing coverts pale grey ; four outer primaries black tipped, 1st primary white, with outer web except small part near tip and inner part of inner web black, in the next three only outer web black near tip, inner primaries grey. Bill, legs and feet red. In winter head and throat white, with some grey feathers on occiput, and dark spot in front of eye and behind ear coverts. Wing 280-3 to. Tarsus 41-46. Bill 27-32. Young : brown above, upper wing coverts light grey, primaries black, with white shafts and tip and white stripe on inner web, bill flesh coloured with dark brown tip, legs and feet pale flesh.

Breeds.—Faroes, British Isles, Continental Europe from S. Scandinavia, Finland, and N. Russia south to S. France, N. Italy, Danube Valley and in Russia to Perm and Vologda ; and also in W. Asia. Partly migratory ; many winter British Isles and Coasts of North Sea ; others wander south to Mediterranean Basin, N.W. Africa, Nile Valley, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and further east in S. Asia.

Larus leucophthalmus Teinminck.

? Head, throat, and foreneck black at all seasons ; above and below eye a white stripe ; back, scapulars, upper wing coverts, and middle upper tail coverts dark grey ; nuchal collar, edge of wing, tail, and underparts white ; under wings dark grey ; primaries black, inner tipped white, as are also secondaries. Bill long and slender, dark carmine red, tip black. Legs and feet yellow. Iris white, eye-rim red. Wing 320-330 (H.).

A Red Sea species ; occurs in winter at times on Egyptian Coast up to Suez.

Larus hemprichi (Bruck). HEMPRICH'S GULL.

Resembles "leucophthalmus" but head and throat grey brown. Iris brown, eye-rim white. Bill thicker, greenish yellow with red tip and a black band behind tip. Legs and feet dull yellow. Chick in down is peculiar ; pale sandy white, unspotted.

Also a Red Sea and E. African species ; occurs on Egyptian Coast up to Suez.