THE VEGA GULL. 731 



larger gulls, (Lams glauccscciis, occidciifalis. aryciitatus, calif ODiiciis, dcla- 

 xvarciisis, and brachyrhyiichiis) is a gradually diminishing area of black upon 

 the beak ( altho this in its reduced form is an adult characteristic of L. cali- 

 foniiciis and L. dclaivarcusis ) . With ad\'ancing age gulls tend to become 

 lighter in coloration ; and in extreme examples ( as in the case of certain 

 Western Gulls observed at Split Rock ) the black wing-tips bleach nearly to 

 whiteness, altho the characteristic pattern may still be dimly discerned. 



Size is also a xtvy variable characteristic in the larger gulls, and it is 

 impossible to distinguish Lams argcntatns from glanccsccns on the one hand, 

 or calif omiciis tm the other, frdui the standpoint of size alone. 



The Herring Gull begins t(i return from its northern breeding" grounds 

 as early as the middle of .August. B}- the 20th of that month large numbers 

 of this species gather with congenial spirits upon the tide-flats and sand-bars 

 of Blaine, where they gorge themselves upon the waste salmon and offal which 

 abounds at that season. The eyes of a salmon are considered great delicacies 

 by these birds; but their taste does not halt here, and their presence in 

 thousands does much to render tolerable tlie \'icinit\- of a salmon cannerv. 



While in general it may be said that Herring Gulls are common in 

 winter on Puget Sound, the\' appear to hold bv preference to the more 

 northern ports, such as Bellingham : and their presence depends largeh' upon 

 the season, — the milder the season the fewer the birds. A storm or a cold 

 snap as late as January will bring thousands of gulls of this and allied 

 species hurrying down from the North, and may altogether change the 

 complexion of the local gull fauna. 



No. 293. 



VEGA GULL. 



A. O. l^ No. 52. Larus vegae fPalnien). 



Description. — Similar to L. argcutatus. but mantle darker, ashy gray to 

 plumbeous gray. No other differences alleged. 



General Range. — "Bering Sea and adjacent waters south in winter to Cali- 

 fornia and Japan" fA. O. L'. ). 



Range in Washington. — Casual in winter on Puget Sound. 



Authorities.— Dawson, Auk, \'ol. NX\'. Oct. 1908, p. 484. E(H). 



DOCTORS of Ornithology are still gravely disputing the scientific ex- 

 istence of this bird ; but we can point them at anv time in winter to examples 

 in Bellingham harbor, which have very much darker mantles than do ordinary 

 Herring Gulls. It is fair enough to presume that this dark-togaed race 



