224 LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



of Vancouver Island by Mr. R. Browne ; and- Mr. Biselioff obtained a large number 

 of specimens at Sitka, and others at Kadiak. Mr. Dall mentions it as being a com- 

 mon species on the west coast, from California northward. It also occurs as far east 

 as Cumberland, where j\Ir. L. Kumlien found it quite common in the upper Cumber- 

 land waters, and. where it was breeding. These Gulls came as soon as there was open 

 water. Their nests were placed on the shelving rocks, on high cliffs. They are not 

 known to occur on the coast of Greenland.^ 



Dr. Cooper mentions this as being an exclusively Avinter bird in California, where 

 it makes its appearance in October in large numbers, wandering along the coast as 

 far south as San Diego, and even farther, remaining until May. A few individiuils 

 in immature ])lumage occur all the year round. 



This Gull feeds on dead animal matter of all kinds, as well as on fish and crus- 

 taceans ; but it is very rarely seen in the interior, or far inland. Its voice is rather 

 high, yet not loud or querulous, being very different from that of the noisy occi- 

 dentalis, Avhich in many other respects it very closely resembles. Dr. Cooper is quite 

 sure that it does not breed on any island south of San Francisco, or on any part of 

 the coast as far north as latitude 49°. 



]\Ir. Dall found this species resident on all the Aleutian Islands which he visited, 

 and by far the most abundant and. prevalent, others being only occasionally observed. 

 The habit of this and of other species of breeding on isolated rocks and small islands 

 is attributed by him to their appreciation of the immunity thus obtained, from the 

 attacks of foxes on the eggs and the young broods. On the 2d of June, 1872, many 

 eggs in a pretty fresh condition were obtained on the Chica Rocks and islets in the 

 Akutan Pass. The eggs were very abundant, not more than three being usually found 

 together, and they were laid in almost any small depression of the ground, Avith little 

 or no attempt at a lining. About the 18th of July, in the Shuinagins, at Coal Har- 

 bor, on a peculiar high round island, an abundance of eggs were obtained ; but most 

 of them had been incubated for some time. In this case, the island being covered 

 with tall, rank grass, the nests were almost concealed ; and either from the dead grass 

 naturally occurring in the depression, or for some other reason, the nests all had 

 more or less of this material in and about them. The Gulls built solely on the top 

 of the highest part of the island, in the grass, and never in the lower portion near 

 the shore, or on the shelves of the rocky and precipitous sides. Mr. Dall also states 

 that this species is a resident of the Aleutian Islands throughout the year. The young 

 of this bird were obtained in the down, about the middle of July ; and the iris of 

 these, as well as their bill and feet, Avas of a black color. 



The late Mr. James Hepburn found this Gull breeding on Williamson's Rock, not 

 far from Smith's Island, and near to and south of San Juan, in the Straits of San 

 Juan de Fiica. 



Eggs of this species in the Smithsonian Collection (No. 12852), obtained at Sitka, 

 have a ground-color of a i)ale grayish drab, Avith markings of a jxile lilac-gray and a 

 rich dark sejjia. The ground-color in various specimens varies from a pale blue to 

 a broAvnish clay-color. Four eggs present the folloAA'ing measurements : 2.70 inches 

 by 1.85 ; 2.80 by 1.90 ; 2.85 by 1.95 ; 2.75 by 1.95. 



1 i\Ii-. Kumlicn's observations here quoted relate to wliat has since been described bj' Mr. Brewster as 

 Lavus Kamlicni. — J. A. A. 



