160 A Sca^GuU shot at Ottawa. 



Instead of silvery white, the iris is yellowish white ; the feet are greyish flesh 

 colour ; the patch of white on the first primary is only an inch in length on 

 each web, and there is no circular patch on the inner web of the second ; 

 but, as Audubon says, " the terminal markings vary," perhaps these differ- 

 ences are of little importance. 



The technical names of this species are Latin, Larus, a gull ; argentatiis, 

 silvery. 



Audubon thus describes the species : — 



Bill robust, compressed, gamboge-yellow, with an orange-red patch toward 

 the end of the lower mandible ; iris silvery-white ; feet flesh-coloured ; head, neck, 

 lower parts, rump, and tail, pure white : back and wings, light greyish blue ; edges 

 of wing and extremities of quills, white ; the lirst six quills brownish black towards 

 the end, that colour including the outer webs and the greater |part of the 

 inner of the first two, and on the rest gradually diminishing, so as on the sixth 

 merely to form a bar ; the first quill with a patch of white about an inch and a half 

 long on both webs near the end, the second with a circular patch on the inner web ; 

 the tips of all white. The terminal markings of the outer quills vary. Young with 

 the bill brownish black, paler at the base ot the lower mandible, feet purplish flesh 

 colour ; general colour of plumage, light purplish grey, the upper part of the head 

 darker, the lower parts mottled with pale yellowish grey ; feathers of upper parts 

 and upper-tail coverts, irregularly edged and barred with greyish white ; primary 

 quills greyish black, terminally margined with wLitish ; tail of the same colour, its 

 base and the outer webs of the lateral feathers irregularly mottled with whitish, the 

 tips brownish white. 



J\Ia/e,2o, 53. Yoiuig, in xvinter^ ISf, 51. 



Abundant in autumn, winter, and early spring, from Texas along the whole 

 Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to Melville Island. 

 Common in autumn on the Great Lakes, the Ohio, and Mississippi. 



Larus argentatus, Bonaf. Syn. p. 360. 



Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 304. 



Herring Cull, Larus argentatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 588 ; v. v. p. 638. 



The Canadian Institute, Geological Survey, &c. — The Journal 

 of the Canadian Institute is now conducted by an able editorial corps, 

 composed principally of the Professors of the University aud Colleges at 

 Toronto, while it is, at the same time, open to communications from the 

 numerous members of the Society, upon any of the sciences to which its 

 pages are devoted. The March number contains many articles, reviews, 

 scientific and literary notes, all of them of great value. 



The Canadian Institute is doing a vast deal of good in calling into 

 activity throughout the country, energies which we have no hesitation in 

 stating would have long slumbered but for that Institution. The same may 

 be said of the Geological Survey. The develojiment of the resources of 

 Canada, the working out of its physical structure, and the exploration of its 

 mineral treasures are not its only services. It has excited curiosity and a 

 desire to acquire information which must lead to important educational 

 results. Eeputatiou abroad, — good name to nations is of as much value as 

 it is to individuals. To be known as a country where the arts and sciences 

 are vigorously cultivated, is to have a good repute. In the department of 

 which we are now speaking, there is much remaining to be done, both by 

 labour and science, and it will be productive of the greatest injury to Canac^ 

 not to carry out the Survey to its completion. 



Errata.— On page 134, 30th line from the top, for « Frias," read " Triae.'* 

 *0n page 142, for «« ynigratorious^^' read " migratorius?'* 



