664 GLAUCOUS GUI.L. 



during the winter time, when its migrations extend as far south 

 as the Straits of Gibraltar, the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and 

 Yedo Bay in Japan. Mr. Ridgway has distinguished the Glaucous 

 Gull of Alaska by the name of L. barrovianus, but I can see nothing 

 exceptional in specimens from the North Pacific, the Arctic regions 

 of America, or Greenland ; and in winter this Gull visits the great 

 lakes and the Mississippi valley as well as the east coast, Texas 

 being its southern limit. In the Pacific — north of lat. 40° — we find a 

 very distinct and slightly smaller species, L. glaucescefis, with primaries 

 chequered with pale grey — not black, as in the Herring-Gull. A 

 larger individual — as yet unique — from Alaska, has been named 

 L. iielsoni by Mr. Henshaw ; and on the east side of Baffin Bay, 

 migrating to New York State in winter, there is a small species, 

 L. kumlie?ii, which may best be described as forming another link 

 between the group of Herring- and of white-winged Gulls. 



The nest is made on projecting ledges of lofty cliffs or on 

 the shore, according to circumstances ; the eggs, usually laid in 

 June, are stone-colour, spotted with ash-grey and brown : average 

 measurements 2 "9 by 2 in. The (Glaucous Gull has several times 

 bred and reared its young in the Gardens of the Zoological Society 

 of London. It is omnivorous as regards diet ; in South Cireenland, 

 during August and September, the berries of Einpetriim nigrum 

 are largely consumed by the immature, birds. From its overbearing 

 nature this species has long been known as ' the Burgomaster ' 

 among whalers and sealers. 



The adult in summer is white, except the mantle which is pale 

 pearl-grey ; the primaries reach but little beyond the tail ; the bill is 

 yellow, orange at the angle ; the legs and feet are bright pink. In 

 winter the head and neck are streaked with ash-grey. Length of a 

 male 32 in., wing 19 in. ; females are often much smaller. The young 

 bird is mottled with ash-brown on a creamy ground, becoming 

 lighter at each moult, until, just before assuming the pearl-grey 

 mantle, it becomes white for a short time. In this state it was 

 formerly supposed to be a distinct species, which Richardson named 

 L. Jmtchinsi; but its identity is now fully established, and I have 

 watched every change of plumage in the birds brought up in the 

 Zoological Gardens. The bill is brown and the legs and feet are 

 livid flesh-colour in the immature bird. 



