308 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



Larus marines, 

 plate cxxix. fig. 283. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Larut marinus, Lin. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 527. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 362. 

 Nottall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 308. Audcbon, B. of Am. Vol. 7, p. 172, pi. 450. GlRAUD, 

 Birds of Long island, p. 361. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 166. 



• 



Characteristics. Back and wings deep bluish black ; quills with black shafts, tipped at 

 the point with white. Tarsus 3 '3. Summer: head and neck pure 

 white. Winter, same parts with brownish streaks. Young, mottled 

 with dull grey and brown. Length, 28 '5. 



Description. Bill robust, compressed, 3*0 long, and 1*1 deep at the mental angle. Tail 

 moderate, even. 



Color. Winter: Bill yellow or yellowish green, with an orange spot on the mental angle. 

 Eyelids red. Feet yellow ; the nails black. Head, neck, rump, tail, and all the lower parts 

 pure white. Head, face and nape, in specimens obtained early in the autumn, lightly streaked 

 with brown. The first four or five quills tipped with white ; the second, third and fourth with 

 a broad black band towards the end of the tips. 



Length, 28-0-30-0. 



This is the largest gull that appears on our coast, and is represented as exceedingly bold 

 and predacious in its habits. It ranges also along the great lakes, and has been observed in 

 Ohio. On the coast, it breeds from Labrador northwardly. In the winter, it ranges com- 

 monly to New- York, but extends its migration to Florida. Has been noticed on the North- 

 west coast. Common to Europe and America. 



THE COMMON AMERICAN GULL. 



Larus zonorhynchus. 



PLATE CXXVIII. FIG. 282 (Yodno).— PLATE CXXX. FIG. 285 (AnuLT). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Larus xonorhynchus et canus. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, pp. 420 and 421. NuttAll, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, 



pp. 299 and 300. 

 L. zonorhynchus. Audubon, B. of America, Vol. 7, p. 152, pi. 446. Giraud, B. of Long island, p. 360. 



Characteristics. Mantle bluish grey. Head, tail and all beneath white. Feet and bill 

 yellow ; the latter usually with a dark ring. Tarsus 2" 0. Outer quills 

 black, tipped with white. Young, mottled with grey, brown and dusky. 

 Tail with a black subterminal band. Length, 19*0. 



