never been authenticated, and are unworthy of serious consideration
; one announced in I The Times ’ a couple of
years ago as ghot near Newmarket, proved to be merely a
handsome specimen of L . ridibundus. The statements by
Temminck and others that L . atricilla had been found in
the Mediterranean, were due to a misconception ; and Pallas
augmented the confusion by applying this name of L.
atricilla to our Black-headed Gull, L. ridibundus. There
is really no evidence that the American èpecies has ever
strayed from the shores and islands of the New World;
and certainly no authenticated example killed on the coasts
of Europe is known to exist in any collection on* thé Continent.
The bird is therefore excluded from the present
Edition.
The vignette below was taken from "a pen-and-ink sketch
sent to the Author by Sir Charles Anderson, to illustrate the
breeding-ground of jhe Black-headed Gull referred to, at
Twigmoor, near Brigg, Lincolnshire. -
GA VIuE. ' ,, ••• a L A R I fiJ i.
!3LaI üö Pallas/*
THE GREAT BLACK-HEADED gggföJËÉÉ
; - This sonth^ eastern .species, by fa#- the largest .of, the Black-
headed Gulls, has undoubtedly, straggled on one occasion f;o
the c©§st-.t)f E n g la n d .,o c c u rre n c e was,recorded in-185-9
jby Mr. rEj W. L. -Ro^gfjOf Topjsham, (Ann. & Mag.. N. H.
p. 467), who stated that “ one was shot by-a boatman,
Mr: W. Pine? when employed -W; Taylor, ,Esq^, of
-Jlridgewater, who was,-engaged in fishing for bass in-,-the
river ofEyjpgjnouth, about the end of May,-or 'beginning-pf
June last-:t;ihjwas in pompanyevith- a flock of ordinary Gulls.
Its remarkable- lize^and ^gppea^anee.-fittractéddh© attention
of ythe ‘ fa tm a n , who, having his gun with him, singly
É^oaut^.and fortunately .obtained the bird$,yyhiffej l13,8 since
been kindly .presented -by, the a^oye rnamed gentleman, to the
S f$! Rei-se Rue»ïstÉiMiR-feï®Sj'h.‘ T-' - *
VOL. TIT.