846 



U. S. p. E. B. EXP. AND SUEVETS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL EEPORT. 



LAEUS CALIFOKNICUS, Lawrence. 



Tlie California Gull. 



Larus californims, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. H. N. Y. VL 1854, 79. 

 Laroides californicus, Bon. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 220. 



Sp. Ch. — .tdull. The head, neck, under plumage, rump, and tail, pure white ; back and wings pearl blue, darker than in 

 L. argenlattts, but not so dark as in L. occidentalis; the six outer primaries are marked with black towards their ends, extending 

 on the first for about two-tliirds its length, and becoming less on the others, until on the sixth it consists only of a sub-termina' 

 bar ; the tips of all are wliite, on the ex erior quill the white extends about two inches, and is crossed near the end by a black 

 bar; the secondaries and tertiaries terminate with white; itis^ hazel; bill yellow; basal part of the upper mandible greenish 

 gray for two-thirds its length; a blackish band crosses both mandibles near their ends, it is darker in color on the lower mandible, 

 where it is bordered with orange ; tarsus and feet flesh color. 



Length, 22^ inches; wing, 16] ; tail, 7; bill, 2; depth at angle, 10-16 ; tarsus, 2} ; middle toe and nail, 2i. 



There are three specimens of this gull in the collection ; one, of which the above are the 

 measurements, differs only from my original specimen in the three outer primaries not having 

 white tips, the first having a white spot near the end, and the tail being marked with an 

 interrupted sub-terminal black band, an evidence that it is not fully adult. 



The two other specimens are smaller, (probably females ;) they appear to be in mature 

 plumage, and have the end of the first primary white for an extent of two inches ; there is a 

 white spot on the second primary about one inch inside of the white tip, in other respects like 

 my specimen. 



They measure in length 20 inches ; wing, 15-|- ; tail, 6 ; bill. If ; depth at angle, j\ ; tarsus, 

 2^ ; middle toe and nail, 2^. 



S^„l_ — West coast of North America. 



Among various specimens of gulls sent me by Professor Baird from his private cabinet for 

 examination, I find two examples of the above species ; these were brought by Dr. Townsend 

 from the Pacific, and were labelled by him L. argentatus. 



List of specimens. 



LAEUS DELAWAEENSIS, Ord. 



The Ring-billed Gall. 



Larus delawarensis, Ord, Guth. Geog. 2nd Am. Ed. II, 1815, 319. 



Larus canm, Bon. Syn. 1828, No. 296 —Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 420. 



Larus brachyrliynchus, Rich. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 422, (not of Gould.) 



Larus zonorhynclius, Rich. & Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 422 — Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 300.— Aud. Birds Am. VII, 



1844, 152 ; pi. ccccxlvi.— BoN. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 224. 

 GaDJno zonorhynchus, Bruch, Cab. Jour. 1855, 282. 



