124 BULLETIN 113, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



and are somewhat more heavily spotted with black. Although speci- 

 mens of this bird are scarce in collections, I have seen enough to con- 

 vince me that the molts and plumages are similar to those of the 

 herring gull. 



Winter. — Our check list states that this species migrates south in 

 winter to Japan, and does not mention any southward migration 

 down the Pacific coast of North America; but Mr. Kobbe (1902) 

 collected a series of herring gulls in San Francisco Bay during De- 

 cember, 1900, and January, March, and April, 1901, some of which 

 might easily be referred to this form. His series, and that of the 

 California Academy of Sciences, show every gradation of color, from 

 the darkest vega to the lightest herring gull. The more one studies 

 such material the less faith one has in Larus vegae as a species. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — Northeastern Siberia, known to breed on the 

 Kolyma River and its delta; Cape Bolshaja Baranof ; Cape Kibera 

 Island; and coast of Tchonkatch (Idligass Island). Taken in sum- 

 mer, and probably breeds on the Siberian coast from the Taimir 

 Peninsula and the Liakoff Islands to Plover Bay and Kamchatka. 

 Alaska breeding records are doubtful. 



Winter range. — South along the coasts of Japan and China to 

 Formosa and the Bonin Islands. Records from the Pacific coast of 

 the United States are usually not accepted. 



Spring migration. — Northward along the Asiatic coast. China, 

 Formosa Channel, March 9; Japan, Kanagana, March 29; Saghalin 

 Island, June 2 (may breed there). 



Fall migration. — Eastward to Norton Sound, Alaska, and then 

 southward along the Asiatic coast. Alaska, Nome, August 31; St. 

 Michael, October 16. 



Casual records. — Taken at Laysan Island and Marcus Island in 

 the Pacific Ocean. 



Egg dates. — Northeastern Siberia : Eight records, June 4 to July 

 12 ; four records, June 24 to July 6. 



LARUS CALIFORNICUS Lawrence. 

 CALIFORNIA GULL. 



HABITS. 



It has always seemed to me that the above name should have been 

 applied to the western gull, Larus occidentalism the characteristic 

 gull of the California coast, for the subject of this sketch, Larus 

 calif ornicus, is essentially a bird of the inland plains. It is common 



