FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 171 



tailed work could not be attempted in the course of our general 

 investigation. 



Larus schistisagus: Slaty-backed Gull 



This bird is seldom seen on the Alaskan coastline, though it 

 is common on the Siberian side of Bering Sea. Nelson (1887) 

 records a specimen taken by Bean, October 1, 1880, at the head 

 of Chernofski Bay, Unalaska, saying, "the birds were abundant 

 there at the time." He adds : "Further work in this region may 

 show that this specimen is of regular and common occurrence 

 at many points on the Alaskan coast, although it was not noted 

 by myself nor by any previous explorer there." 



The slaty-backed gull has continued to be rare, however, and 

 has seldom been seen. Swarth (1934) wrote "None collected 

 but several identified in life [by C. G. Harrold] from time to 

 time. An adult was shot from the ship but lost, between Kodiak 

 and Akutan, May 16, and others were seen at Cape Etolin 

 [Nunivak Island] on August 27 and 29." 



Gianini (1917), speaking of Stepovak Bay, Alaska Peninsula, 

 says "I noted but one or two here." 



Clark (1910) observed a few in Unalga Pass, near Unalaska, 

 but saw no more until he reached the Commander Islands. 



In the course of three expeditions to the Aleutians I saw a 

 dark-mantled gull only once — at Bogoslof Island, August 24, 1937, 

 when a single gull of this kind was noted among some glaucous- 

 winged gulls. The specimen was collected and proved to be 

 schistisagus. 



On February 14, 1941, F. L. Beals obtained a good specimen 

 of a female at Atka Island, and on March 15, 1942, he obtained 

 parts of another at Sanak. Gabrielson saw 1 at False Pass on 

 March 16, 1942, and was told of 1 at Unalaska, March 20. 



Larus argentatus: Herring Gull 

 Larus argentatus smithsonianus 



Friedmann (1935) says "The only definite Kodiak specimens 

 known to me are two birds collected by Wosnessensky in 1842 or 

 1843, another taken on August 30, 1906 and a number of bones 

 unearthed from old Eskimo middens by Hrdlicka in 1934." He 

 also recorded (1937) bones of this gull from middens at Dutch 

 Harbor, Little Kiska, and Attu. 



Jaques (1930) reports "One immature near the Shumagin 

 Islands." 



Cahalane (1944) observed a number of gulls on Naknek River, 



