zooLOCY. 277 



Sp. Ch. — Adult: Head and upper part of neck grayish black, this color extending rather lower on the throat than on the 

 jieck behind ; lower part of neck, under plumage, rump, and tail, white ; back and wings clear bluish gray ; first primary black 

 on the outer web; inner web of the first primary, both webs of the second, and the outer web of the third, white ; the inner web 

 of the third and all the other primaries are of the same color as the back ; the six outer primaries have their ends black for 

 the extent of about an Inch on the central ones, but less on the first and sixth ; they are all slightly tipped with white; shoulders, 

 anterior borders of the wings, and outer webs of the piimary coverts, white ; bill deep black; inside of mouth carmine; iris 

 hazel ; legs and feet orange, with a reddish tinge. 



Length, 14^ inches; wing, lOA ; tail, 4i ; bill, IJ; tarsus, l/j. 



Uab. — Texas to Nova Scotia, Mississippi river, fur countries, Pacific coast of North America. 



The beautiful little Bonaparte's gull is extremely common on Puget Sound, near Fort Steila- 

 coom, and seems to be a constant resident at all seasons. It, like several other species, is 

 found, at low tide, abundant on the flats and "tide prairies" at the river mouths. 



It is tlie only gull commonly eaten by the Nisqually Indians. I tried one broiled, finding it 

 equal to many birds well recognized as edible, as, for example, the larger rails. 



I obtained birds in Jul}', which I supposed were the young of the year. The species is 

 sufficiently numerous during the summer to warrant the belief that it breeds in the vicinity. 

 The country, at the time I spent my last summer there, was in such a disturbed condition, 

 owing to the hostile attitude of tlie Indians, that my excursions and observations were much 

 interfered with. — S. 



Note. — The hooded gull, or C. cucuHatus of Lichtenstein, was obtained by me at Panama, 

 and probably extends to a considerable distance north, along the coast. It is a little smaller 

 than the G. Philadelphia and has the bill deep carmine, besides other differences. — S. 



In May and in October a black-headed species of gull migrates along the western coast in 

 large flocks. They closely resemble the Lams SucMeyi in habits, feeding entirely by diving 

 among the shoals of small fish. Being constantly on the wing, and very shy, I could not dis- 

 tinguish which of the five black-headed species described they were, but probably the G. 

 Philadelphia. — C. 



RISSA SEPTENTRIONALIS, Lawrence. 



The North Pacific Eittiwake; Tamer's KittiAvake. 



Rissa septentrionalis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Hist. N. Y. VI, 1858,265. — B.4ird & Lwvkknce, Gen. Rep. Birds, 854. 



Sp. Ch. — Adult: Head, neck, under surface, and tail, pure white. Back and wings light pearl blue; first primary black for 

 about half its length from the end; a white spot one and a half inches in length crosses both webs near the end, which is black ; 

 second primary black for about one-third its length; also with a white spot (but smaller) inside the black tip; the next five 

 primaries are black at their ends, with white tips; the black decreases inwards, existing as a spot only on the seventh ; basal 

 part of the primaries bl lish ash, becoming white where it joins the black ends, except on the first and second ; secondaries and 

 tertiaries ending with white ; bill dusky green at the base for two-thirds its length ; remainder yellow, which deepens to orange 

 on the ridge of the upper mandible and angle of the lower ; legs and feet yellowish green. 



Length, 17} inches; wing, 13i; tail, 5| ; bill, I|; tarsus, 15- 



Hah. — Pacific coast of North America ; Puget Sound. 



The two specimens upon which Mr. Lawrence founded this species were given to me by Dr. 

 Thomas J. Turner, of the United States navy, who had obtained them at Bellingham bay, a 

 harbor just north of Puget Sound. Dr. Turner obliged me on many occasions by his kindness 

 in securing me specimens of various kinds, and made his friendship tlie more pleasant by the 

 interest which he took in furthering, as far as was in his power, the procurement of data tending 

 to elucidate the hitherto obscure natural history of the northwest coast. — S. 



