R 20 British COLUMBIA. 1921 




Two other specimens which are of considerable interest were collected for this Department— 
namely, the Iceland gull (Larus leucopterus)—one of which was taken in January, 1921, and 
the other in February, 1921. These birds were taken at Kildonan, Barkley Sound, B.C., by 
Mr. W. McKay. 
Mr. J. W. Thompson having spoken to the Director of two gulls that had been noticed in 
the vicinity of Kildonan during the month of December, both pure white (and his description 
was so definite that they could not be mistaken for any other bird than that of the Iceland gull), 
the Director requested Mr. Thompson to have some person, if possible, secure these birds for 
this Department. 
The birds are pure white throughout, about the size of the glaucous-winged gull, but having 
no pearl-grey mantle, being finely streaked with a very light-greyish tinge. The primaries are 
white throughout. ‘otal length of the bird is about 24 inches. The feet are flesh-coloured ; 
bill, flesh-coloured with black tip; the iris is yellow. The range of this bird, according to the 
A.O.U., is given as Arctic regions. Breeds from Victoria Land (Cambridge Bay) and Boothia 
Peninsula to Central Greenland and east to Nova Zembla; winters from Southern Greenland 
south to Long Island; casual on the Great Lakes; accidental in Nebraska and Maryland; in 
Europe south to the British Isles, Scandinavia, and Baltic Sea. 
Another very peculiar-looking gull was seen by the Director and members of his staff on 
the lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, from October 13th to 25th, 1920, at 
intervals during these days on the arrival of the C.P.R. steamers. 
This bird appeared after the arrival of one of the boats that plies on the triangular route 
between Victoria, Seattle, and Vancouver. It would arrive about 3 p.m. with the boat, and 
when the same boat was leaving at 4.80 p.m. the bird would disappear. It appeared to be 
following this particular boat for some time in and out of Victoria harbour. The following is 
a description of the gull noted by the Director :-— 
Back of head and nape, creamy white; bill, yellowish, bright-red spot on lower mandible 
like a herring-gull; well-defined collar on the neck of umber brown; throat and abdomen uniform 
dark brownish; wings pearly grey with black primaries and white spots. Mantle showing pearl 
grey intermixed with brown umber; tail, white. 
Notes ON THE CHINESE STARLING (ACRIDOTHERES CRISTATELLUS). 
Many inquiries have been made from time to time in regard to a bird which is found in 
the heart of Vancouver City. This bird is about the size of our red-winged blackbird; is a 
bird that is uniform black throughout, with the exception of a dirty white spot in the primaries 
which is seen very distinctly in the primaries and secondaries when in flight. It has a small 
erest on the head; the bill is whitish horn colour; feet, yellow horn colour; iris, yellow. On 
the end of the tail there is a narrow band of a dirty greyish white. 
The first record I have of this bird was a specimen collected by the Director in November, 
1904, in the heart of Vancouver City between the old Court-house which stood on Hastings Street 
and the public school. My attention was first drawn to this bird by the Hon. Mr. Justice Martin. 
The specimen secured was at that time not known to the Director, and was sent to Washington 
D.C., for verification, and was identified as Acridotheres cristatellus, a native of Southern China, 
and had been reported from the Island of Luzon, in the Philippines. There were very few of 
these birds in Vancouver at this time, although Mr. V. W. Mitchell, of Vancouver, recently 
informed me that he had first noticed the bird in the year 1897, only seeing two pairs. These 
birds have inereased considerably the last few years, and appear to make their main roost on 
the corner of Carrall and Cordova Streets, roosting on the sides of the buildings on ledgings 
under the large overhanging cornices. These roosts now contain approximately 1,200 birds. 
They leave their roosts in the early morning and fly off into the adjacent surroundings to fields 
and gardens for food. These birds are very noticeable in the afternoons about one hour before 
dusk, when they fly back to this roost for the night; they make a considerable noise, chattering 
and whistling until darkness, drawing the attention of many passers-by. 
I have no record of these birds doing any harm to agricultural interests, but they should be 
watched and observed very closely in regard to agriculture. Mr. W. B. Anderson, Dominion 
Inspector of Indian Orchards, informs me he has two authentic records of these birds from 
persons who have observed them destroying the tent-caterpillar, which has become a considerable 
pest in Vancouver City. 


