THE WESTERN GULL. 725 



No. 2QI. 



WESTERN GULL. 



A. O. L'. Xo. 49. Larus occidentalis Aiul. 



Synonym. — Westerx IIurring Gull. 



Description. — Adult: Mantle slaty gra}- ur ])lunibeoiis slate, most intense in 

 fresh spring plumage, sharply contrasting with terminal white of secondaries and 

 tertials; the first three primaries black on exposed portion, the outer one white 

 for about two inches subterminallv, crossed distally b_\- irregular black bar, and 

 tipped with white ; the 2nd and succeeding narrowly tipped only with white : the 

 black disappearing on 6th ; remaining plumage pure white ( hind-head and neck 

 streaked, or not [ ?J with dusky in winter ) ; bill stout and deep with very convex 

 culmen and strongly marked angle ; irides brown : feet pale purplish rosy or 

 flesh-colored. Down\ \ouiuj: Much as in preceding, but markings more brownish 

 black. First pluiuagc: " Above brownish slate irregularly spotted with grayish 

 white; remiges, rectrices, and primary coverts, uniform dull black, narrowly 

 tipped with white; lower parts brownish gray, clouded or irregularly spotted with 

 grayish white — the breast and abdomen sometimes nearl_\- uniform grayish. LJill 

 dusky black terminall}-, flesh-colored basally." In other transitional juvenile 

 plumages black of bill and blackish brown of ])rimaries and tail most persistent. 

 Length of ailult 24.00-27.00 (609.6-685.8); wing about 16.50 (419.1); bill 2.25 

 (57.2), depth at angle .88 122.4) : tarsus 2.60 (66). 



Recognition Marks. — Gull size; dark slaty blue of mantle distinctive, ado- 

 lescent black spot on angle of gonj-s less persistent than in other sjiecies ; wing- 

 pattern simpler than in many but not aft'ording good field mark. 



Nesting. — Nest and Eggs <|uite as in preceding. 



General Range. — I^acific Coast of North America, breeding from British 

 Columbia (west coast of A'ancouver Island) south to I^ower California. 



Range in Washington. — Not common spring and fall migrant only on Puget 

 Sound, more common during migrations on the Straits: nests onl)- in the southern 

 portion of the C)lympiades, chieflv within the Copalis Rock Reservation. 



Authorities. — ?Au<luljon, ( )rn. Biog. \". 1839, \). \20. Baird and 

 Lawrence, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1S5S. p. 845. C&S. L'. Rh. DM ?). Kb. 

 Kk. E. E. 



Specimens. — Prov. 



JOHN FANNIN, while curator of the Provincial ]\Iuseuni at A'ictoria, 

 regarded the Western Gull as a resident of British Columbia, and called it 

 "very abundant on the Coast during the winter months." He found it 

 breeding in the Similkameen Valley, and supposed that it nested also upon 

 the coast. This surmise must ha^■e been correct, for tlie birds do appear about 

 our northern harbors in considerable numbers, and they are especially notice- 

 able along the Straits of Ju^n tie Fuca in spring time: but it is worthy of 

 remark that thev have vielded all title in the San Juan Islands to the Glaucous- 



