BIRDS — LAEIDAE — BLASIPUS HEERMANNI. 



849 



The above are Mr. Cassin's descriptions of the adult and young. 



In the collection are seven specimens which I consider to be identical with the abDve species ; 

 one agrees very closely with Mr. Cassin's description of the young ; none of the others have 

 the head white, but in most of them this color exists on the throat and is developing itself on 

 the head in such a manner as to leave no doubt that it would have become white eventually ; 

 the neck is of a clear ash ; the upper tail coverts are of a pearl gray color ; tail rather broadly 

 tijiped with white. 



In this plumage they agree very well with L. helcheri, Vigors' ; the measurements given by 

 Vigors are as follows: length, 21 inches ; wing, 11 ; tail, 6 ; bill, 2 ; tarsi, 2. The specimens 

 in the collection range in length from 18 to 21 inches ; wings, about 14 ; tail, 5J to 6 ; bill, 2; 

 tarsi, 2. Differing from the dimensions of Belcheri only in the length of the. wing, which I 

 am satisfied is an error, as a wing of 11 inches for a gull measuring 21 in length is out of all 

 proportion. 



They also answer very well to the description of L. fdiginosus, Gould, which is thus given 

 in the Zool. of the Voy. of the Beagle, Birds, p. 141 : 



"The whole of the plumage deep leaden gray; the upper and under tail coverts being 

 lightest ; bill red at the base, black at the tip ; feet black." 



"Length, 16| inches ; wing, 13|; tail, 6; tarsi, 2i; bill, 2f," (probably from gape.) 



I incline to the opinion that the three names refer to the same bird, Mr. Cassin describing it 

 in perfect plumage as L. heermanni. If this proves to be the case, Vigors' name of Belcheri will 

 have priority. 



Note by Dr. Suckley. — " Larus helcheri. Two gulls supposed by me to belong to this species, 

 were obtained in the Straits of Fuca, near Whidby's Island, W. T. Both of these gulls had 

 red bills. The species does not seem to be fond of feeding on the shores and bare fiats, like the 

 L. zonorhynchus and other species, but is almost always found on kelp beds floating in deep 

 water some distance from the shore. In these situations both my specimens were shot. These 

 gulls, when being skinned, emitted a very rank disagreeable odor, much stronger and more 

 unpleasant than that of L. zonorhynchus." 



List of specimens. 



' Larus belcheri, Vig. ZooI. Jour. IV, 1829, 358.— Ib. Zool. Blossom, 18.S9, 39. 



August 27, 1858. 



107 b 



