LARID.E-THE GULLS AND TERNS — LARUS. 249 



Sir John Richardson first refers to this bird as a distinct species on the strength 

 of an individual obtained at Great Bear Lake. This example was a female that had 

 been killed on the 23d of ^lay, 1826. Mr. Murray states that he met with this species 

 on Hudson's Bay ; and Mr. Bernard Ross also saw it on the Mackenzie River. 



Dr. Cooper mentions having also met with it, during its migrations, near the 

 Columbia River. He found it i)assing only during the spring and fall ; but specimens 

 are said to have been obtained by others near the Straits of Fuca, both in December 

 and in July. He is of opinion that in all probaljility these birds proceed south only 

 as far as the extreme northern limits of California, and only during the extremity 

 of winter. Dr. Cooper found them in flocks that were constantly fluttering over 

 shoal water, rapidly diving for fish, and keeping up a constant chattering. lu their 

 flight their movements were rapid and easy. They were rather shy. 



Mr. Bannister found this species abundant on the marshes and ponds along the 

 canal or channel which separates the Island of St. Michael's from the mainland. It 

 was not so abundant on the more open water near the fort. 



Mr. Dall speaks of it as being eminently a river Gull, and as abundant from Fort 

 Yukon to the sea ; but it was not seen by him on the sea-coast. He states that he 

 obtained its eggs in great abundance about the mouth of the Yukon — where a variety 

 was noticed having a bright yelloAv bill — and also the young Gulls in their downy 

 plumage near Fort Yukon. The black-and-white pattern on the wings of this species 

 is said to vary a good deal ; not so much in itself, as in relation to the different feath- 

 ers, as if it had been carelessly stamped on with the hand by a die. These birds 

 were eaten by the old Indians. 



Mr. MacFarlane found this species breeding at various points, near the Arctic Sea, 

 between the Mackenzie Valley and the Anderson, and from there to the Yukon. One 

 nest, which was merely a small cavity in the sand, and which contained two eggs, was 

 found on Lockhart River on the 28th of May ; another was seen, June 3, on the 

 ground near a small lake in the neighborhood of Fort Anderson ; and a third, obtained 

 on the 10th of June near Fort Anderson, contained three eggs. This last nest was 

 made of hay, and was placed on a stump, four feet from the ground, near a small 

 lake ; the parent bird was secured. A fourth, also containing three eggs, was found 

 on the following day in a precisely similar situation. On the 21st of June a nest of 

 this species, which was built on a tree at least ten feet from the ground, was seen 

 near Rendezvous Lake. It was composed of sticks and twigs, and was lined with 

 mosses and hay. Both parents were near the spot, and the male was secured. 

 Another nest was taken on Swan River, in the Barren Grounds ; it also was built 

 on a tree, in the same situation as the last mentioned, and was similar in its con- 

 struction. 



Specimens of this Gull were also secured during the breeding-season on Slave 

 River, at Fort Resolution, and on the Yukon, by Mr. Kennicott ; at Big Island by 

 Mr. Reid and by Mr. Ross ; at Fort Rae by Mr. Clarke ; and at various places by 

 Mr. MacFarlane. 



The eggs in the Smithsonian Collection were taken from Great Slave Lake, the 

 Yukon, Anderson River, Fort Rae, Fort Resolution, and Peale's River. Six eggs 

 present the following measurements: 2.00 by 1.45 inches; 2.00 by 1.60; 2.05 by 

 1.50 ; 2.25 by 1.70 ; 2.30 by 1.70 ; and 2.35 by 1.60. Their ground-color is a greenish 

 olive-brown, the olive tending to green in some, and to brown in others. The markings 

 are of various forms, but are chiefly small spots of a dark buffy umber, larger and 

 more numerous towards the more rounded portion of the egg. 

 VOL. II. — 32 



