primaries, and differences were also observable in the length of the tarsus
and toes ; but all had the same voice, and were actually of the same species.
We also found considerable differences in their size and weight,
even in individuals of the same sex, some weighing one pound, others four
ounces more, and some so much as one pound ten ounces. The males,
at an average, were larger than the females. Not a bird of any other
species was found there, or on the grassy islands.
Whatever opinion may be held as to the synonyms of this Gull, I am
perfectly assured of the above mentioned variations in the colour, size,
and markings of the younger and older birds. I am equally sure that no
individuals acquire the full beauty of their plumage before the third
spring. The young are at first of a dull greenish-yellow, spotted with
dark brown on the head and rump. In a very few days they leave the
nest, ramble about in its vicinity, waiting the arrival of their parents with
food, and conceal themselves under stones or in crevices at the appearance
of danger. When a few weeks old, they do not hesitate, on being pursued,
to betake themselves to the water, where they swim with great
lightness. When about the size of pigeons, they assume a brownish colour,
each feather being broadly banded or tipped with light ferruginous
and grey. At this season, the fishermen of Labrador and Newfoundland
kill them in great numbers, and pack them in salt for winter use. I was
much Surprised one morning while at Labrador, to see one of the barges
of the Gulnare come alongside of the Ripley after a long cruize, when officers
and men were glad to have a good mess of these young Gulls in the
bow of their boat, they having run short of provisions.
LARUS ZONORHYNCHUS, Swains, and Richards. Fauna lior. Amer. part ii. p. 4 2 1 .
RING-BILLED MEW-GULL, LARUS ZONORHYNCHUS, Nuttail, Manual, vol. ii. p. 300.
Adult Male in summer plumage. Plate CCXII. Fig. 1.
Bill shorter than the head, robust, nearly straight, compressed. Upper
mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight at the base, arched and
decimate towards the end, the ridge convex, the sides slightly convex,
the edges sharp inflected, arched, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal groove
rather long and narrow; nostrils in its fore part, lateral, longitudinal,
linear, wider anteriorly, open, and pervious. Lower mandible with a
prominence at the end of the angle, which is long and narrow, the dorsal
line then nearly straight and ascending, the sides convex, the edges sharp
and inflected.
Head rather large. Neck of moderate length. Body rather full.
Wings long. Feet of moderate length, rather slender; tibia bare below;
tarsus somewhat compressed, covered before and behind with numerous
broad scuteUa, the sides reticulated; hind toe very small and elevated,
the fore toes rather long and slender, the fourth longer than the second,
the third longest, all scutellate above, and connected by reticulated entire
membranes, the lateral toes margined externally with a narrow membrane.
Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, rather obtuse.
The plumage in general is close, elastic, very soft and blended, on
the back rather compact. Wings very long, rather broad, acute, the
first quill longest, the other primaries rapidly graduated; secondaries
broad and rounded, the inner elongated and narrow. Tail of moderate
length, even, of twelve rounded feathers.
Bill marked opposite the angle with a broad transverse band of
brownish-black, between which and the base it is light greenish-yellow,
the tips orange-yellow. Edges of eyelids greenish-yellow; iris bright
yellow. Feet greenish-yellow, the webs tinged with orange; claws black.
The general colour of the plumage is pure white, excepting the back
and wings, which are light pearl-grey. The first six quills are black
towards their extremities, .the first and second being almost entirely so, the
sixth with only a small spot. The tips of these feathers are white, that
of the first having merely a narrow margin of that colour, which gradually
enlarges on the rest, the first moreover has near the end a long patch
of white, the second a smaller one on the inner web. The proportional
size of the white marks on the outer primaries varies in individuals.
The other quills and secondaries are all white at the ends.
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 2 2 | , to end of claws
20^ ; extent of wings 48; wing from flexure 15£, tail 6 ; bill along the back
1£, along the edge 2 | , depth at the base depth at the prominence
bare part of the tibia f, tarsus 2 ; middle toe l 3
, its claw 2£; hind
T
g T
toe T
Bi, its claw T \ . Weight 1£ lb.
Young bird, after first moult, shot on 26th November. Plate
CCXII. Fig. 2.
Bill black, base of lower mandible and edges of upper towards the
base, livid flesh-colour. Edges of eyelids livid blue; iris hazel. Feet