236 BIKDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Larus Philadelphia; SAUNDEBS.P. Z. S. 1878, 206.-Rn>ow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 675. 

 Larus (C/ircecocephalus] Philadelphia COUES, B. N. W. 1874, 655. 

 Larus minutus SABINE, App. Franklin's Voy. 1823, 696. Sw. & Kicn.F. B.-A. li, 1831, 426 (not 



of PAIL. 1776'. 



Larus capistratus BONAP. Specc. Comp. 1828, 69 (not of TEMM. 1820). 

 ? Larus melanorhynchus TEMM. PI. Col. livr. 85, pi. 504 (1830; Chili). 

 Larus bonapartii Sw. & RICH. F.B.-A. ii, 1831, 425, pi. 72 NUTT Man, ii, 1834, 294. AUD. Orn? 



Biog. iv. 1838, 212 pi. 321; Synop. 1839, 323; B. Am. vii, 1814, 131, pi. 452. 

 Larus ( hroicocephalua) subulirostris "Bp," BRUCH, J. f. 0. 1853, 105 (type in Mus. Mainz). 



HAB. The whole of North America, but no valid record of its occurrence south of the 

 United States, except Bermudas (HuKDis). Breeds from Manitoba (probably also northern 

 Minnesota) northward. 



SP. CHAR. Adult, in summer: Head and upper part of the neck dark plumbeous, the 

 eye'ids marked by an elongated whi:e spot. Lower part of the neck, entire lower parts, 

 tail, upper tail coverts, lower and lateral portions of the rump, border of the wing, alulae, 

 primary coverts, and greater portion of the primaries snow white, the neck and lower parts 

 with a delicate rose-pink blush in fresh specimens. Mantle, including upper and middle 

 portions of rump, delicate light pearl-blue. Three outer primaries chiefly white, the outer 

 web of the exterior quill, and the terminal portion of all, deep black; four h quill similar to 

 the third, but the inner web pale grayish blue; fifth and sixth quills pale grayish blue, with 

 a large subtei minal black space, and tipped with white (third and fourth quills also marked 

 with a small white apical spot); remaining quills pale grayish blue, without white tips, but 

 marked near the end, usually on inner web only, with a black spot, Bill deep black; iris 

 dark brown; interior of mouth, with legs and feet, rich clear orange red; J claws black. 

 Adult, in winter: Similar, but head and neck white, the occiput tinged with grayish, and 

 the auricular region marked by a spot of dusky gray. Legs and feet flesh-color. Young, 

 first plumage: Sides and under part of head and neck, entire lower parts, upper tail cov- 

 erts, and basal three fourths of the tail pure white; crown, occiput, and upper part of the 

 back b. ownish gray ; a dusky grayish spot on the auricular region; scapulars and posterior 

 inters apulars grayish brown, tipped with pale buff; central area of lesser wing-covert 

 region dusky brownish gray; rest of wing-coverts, edges of secondaries, greater portion 

 of inner primaries, with upper and central puitions of the rump, light grayish blue; band 

 across end ot tail black or dusky, the tip narrowly whitish. Outer primary with the entire 

 outer web, and a stripe a!ong the inner next the shaft, with the end, black, the remaining 

 portion white; second and third quills similar, but the white successively more r stricted; 

 fourth, bluish white on boih webs (inner web more bluish), the subterminal portion black 

 for moie than an inch, the tip with a small white spot; remaining quills similar, but deeper 

 bluish gray. Bill dusky ; feet pale brownish (in sk.n). Young, second year: Similar to the 

 adu.t in winter plumage, but central lesser wing-coverts dusky, tail crossed by a subtermi- 

 nal band of dusky bi own, and primaries marked as in the first plumage. 



Total length, about 13.00-14.0t) inches; extent, 32.UO; i\ing. 10.25; culrnen, 1.20; depth of bill 

 through nostrils, .25; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe with claw. 1.40. 



This pretty little gull, the smallest of the 1 American species, 

 is a transient migrant in Illinois, occasionally wintering in the 

 southern portion of the State. 



1 In some very high-colored specimens the feathers immediately surrounding the 

 naked rim of the eyelids are fine orange-red. 



