634 LARUS CALIFORNICUS, CALIFORNIAN GULL. 



Tonng-of-the-year. — Bill entirely black, rather Bborter than in the adnlts, but at tbe 

 eaiue time with great comparative depth at the angle. Everywhere a deep black- 

 ish-brown, mottled with grayish-white, the feathers of the upper parts being tipped 

 and edged with that color. Kuuip and upper tail-coverts barred with whitish and 

 dusky. Wings and tail as in the preceding. 



ll'intcr pliDUdf/e. — This species seems to form an exception to the rule which obtains 

 60 extensively among large Gulls, since iu winter the head and neck behind are not, 

 ordinarily at'least, streaked with dusky. I do not mean to assert that such a plumage 

 is never acquired; but many hundred individuals which I have observed, nuder ]>ecu- 

 liarly fiivorable circumstances, at this season, all had the head and neck immaculately 

 white, as in summer. The fact was brought more prominently into my notice frota 

 the fact that these Gulls were usually seen in company with three other species, every 

 individual of which latter were, as usual, streaked on the head and neck. 



Dimensions. — Length, 24 inches ; extent, 55 ; wing, 15.50 ; l)ill above, 2.30 : along 

 gape, 3.10 ; height at nostril, 0.75 ; width, 0.40 ; height at angle, 0.85 ; tarsus, and mid- 

 dle toe and claw, 2.75. 



This is a strongly-marked variety. Its most striking peculiarity of form lies in the 

 rather short and remarkably robust bill, the depth at the angle being very great. It 

 is about the size of m-geniatus, but, in addition to the stout bill, may be distinguished 

 from that species by its very dark upper parts (a slate, approaching that of marinus in 

 intensity), and the black, or nearly black, bases of the three tirst primaries. The sjie- 

 cies hardly requires comparison with calijomiciis ; its superior size, very robust bill, 

 dark mantle and bases of the primaries, and restricted character of the subterminal 

 spots, readily distinguish it. With one specimen, however (No. 22020, a bird of the 

 year), we are in a little doubt. In size and general very dark colors it agrees with 

 epecimens of undoubted occldentalis ; but the bill is small, perhaps less than the aver- 

 age of adult californicus, and with comparatively little depth at the angle. Although 

 the young occidenialis has the dejith of bill at the angle, conqtared with that at the 

 nostrils, fully as great as in the adult, yet it is according to analogy with the feature 

 presented by most Gulls, that the bill should be smaller every way iu the young ; and 

 we therefore do not consider the discrepancy as irreconcilable to the species. 



The specimens before us do not seem to indicate so great a diversity' in size as exists 

 among some large Gulls. The difference in the length of the longest and shortest 

 wings amounts to scarcely an inch. The bill, however, varies greatly in size and pro- 

 portions. The character of the changes of plumage is much that of argentattis, but the 

 two birds may be distinguished by their bills. Without an undoubted young californi- 

 cus, we cannot institute a comparison ; but the differences will doubtless be those of 

 smaller size, much weaker bill, and, probably, lighter colors generally. 



Bruch is greatly in error in saying that this species is "not larger than L. zonorhyn- 

 chiis." We see little grounds for the assertion of Bonaparte, that it is "intermediate 

 between Laroidts argentatoides and Larus zonorlujnchus." Bonaparte's diagnosis is oth- 

 erwise very accurate. 



I have quoted with a query, as synonyms of this 8i>ecies, the names of the large, 

 dark Asiatic bird, considered as distinct by Bonaparte, but which Schlegel unhesitat- 

 ingly assigns here. I have never had an opportunity of examining a specimen from that 

 locality; but judging from descriptions, the bird is exceedingly closely related to, if 

 not identical with, the present. 



LARUS CALIFORNICUS, Lawr. 



Califoriiian Gull. 



(J) Larus argentatoides, Bp., Syn. 1828, 360.— Rich., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 417. 



Larus californicus, Laavk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. vi, 1854, 79 ; B. N. A. 1858, 846.— Bp., Compt. 



liendus, 185(), 770.— CooP. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. Ia60, 273.— Coues, Pr. 



A. N. S. 1862, 300. 

 Laroides californicus, Bp., Consj). Av. ii, 1856, 226. 

 Larus dcluwarensis var. californicus, Coles, Key, 1872, 313. 



DiAG. Larus pedibus fusco-oUvaceis, rernige privio lato spatto apicali albo. 



Hah.— Pac\6.c coast of North America. California. Interior of Arctic America, on 

 the great lakes and rivers. 



Note. — Believing that I may have been hasty in reducing this supposed species, iu 

 the Key, to a variety of delawarcnsis, I shall here treat it as distinct, at the s<!me time 

 urging the i>robabiliV that it will be found to intergrade completely with that species. 



Bill moderately stout and strong, the angle well developed : varying considerably in 

 size, largtn- than in delawarensis, sometia'cs nearly equaling that of artjentatus iu size. 

 Tarsus equal to or slightly longer than the middle toe and claw. 



