Dr. E. Coues. — From Arizona to the Pacific. 271 



We see how this is accomplished if we skin one. The hyper- 

 trophy of the subcutaneous cellular tissue (which is on the 

 lower parts an inch thick), and its connexion with the hollow 

 bones and air-tubes of the lungs, so that they can inflate it at 

 pleasure, makes them as light as a lifeboat. They fly by long 

 heavy powerful beats, which alternate with short sailings. Often 

 they do just as I have described of the Cormorants, and for 

 precisely similar reasons. At this season (November) their 

 necks are white, their heads and portions of the jugulum yellow. 

 The bill is brilliant carmine or pinkish-vermilion, which, in a 

 few hours after death, fades into reddish flesh-colour. The nail 

 is yellowish white, with a black base; the gular pouch dirty 

 ochraceous green. The space around the eye is pinkish flesh- 

 colour, and the soft base of the upper mandible is black. 



While P. fuscus was thus so common on the bay, not an 

 individual of P. erythorhynchus was to be seen ; but two or three 

 miles inland, on the freshwater ponds and lagoons, they are in 

 great plenty. And in these lagoons, with the White Pelicans, 

 let me mention, by the way, that Macrorhamphus scolopaceus is 

 very common. It does not seem to go on to the salt-flats at all. 

 I believe its habits are very similar to those of Micropalama 

 himantopus. The species is one that is rather snubbed by 

 American ornithologists, and has hardly found a champion to 

 vindicate its distinctness from M. yriseus, except Mr. Lawrence. 

 Neither Dr. Cooper nor I have any doubt of its validity as a 

 species. 



Being on a sea coast, of course we anticipated LaridcB of 

 several sorts. Nor were we disappointed. Foremost among 

 the larger species stands " the Gull " par excellence of the 

 Pacific coast, L. occidentalis, so well marked by its huge bill 

 and dark mantle. It is a singular fact that, contrary to the 

 law so generally prevailing among Lari, this bird does not, in 

 winter, have the occiput and nape streaked with grey. I do not 

 say this is never the case ; but of hundreds (perfect adults) that 

 I have closely examined — for it is not a shy species — not one had 

 any trace of grey, but the parts were as pure white as in summer. 

 At the same time all the other Gulls were thus marked. Pro- 

 bably the next common species was Larus delawarcnsis ; and 



