732 THE CALIFORNIA GULL. 
occupies some definitely circumscribed region in the far North, conjectured 
to be the shores of Bering Sea, and that ages of loyalty to the scenes of 
childhood have bestowed this distinctive mark upon it. 
One of these dark-winged birds which used to rest on the top of a 
certain convenient pile, in Bellingham, had a foot taken off, as if by a sharp- 
edged trap. The bird, however, supported himself freely upon the tarsal 
stump, and apparently made light of his infirmity. Old “Dot-and-go-one” 
had also an unusually conspicuous spot of vermilion, which glowed becom- 
ingly, upon the angle of the lower mandible. 
No. 204. 
CALIFORNIA GULL. 
A. O. U. No. 53. Larus californicus Lawr. 
Description.—du/t: Mantle pearl gray (averaging a little darker than in 
argentatus); tip of wing (six outer primaries) chiefly black, that of 1st primary 
interrupted near tip by blotch of white about two inches in length, shaft of 
feather white in this portion, area of white decreasing on inner web; 2nd _ pri- ‘ 
mary less extensively blotched with white, forming in the exposed wing with 
the preceding a wedge-shaped area of white, largest anteriorly, shaft of this 
quill black thruout; tips of all white; black disappearing in small subterminal *s 
‘bar of 6th; remaining plumage pure white (streaked, or not, with dusky on 
hind-head and neck in winter); bill yellow (brighter in summer), a round spot of 
vermilion, above which a round spot of black, on lower mandible at angle; irides 
brown; feet greenish gray or yellowish gray. Nearly mature: As in adult, but 1 
lingering traces of brownish gray on upperparts, tail with narrow, imperfectly 
defined subterminal bar of black; white subterminal area on Ist primary re- 
duced; none on 2nd. Young: Upperparts more or less mottled with dusky or 
brownish gray; primaries and rectrices brownish black paling slightly on tips; : 
bill black on terminal half. Length of adult 20.00-23.00 (508-584.2); wing 
15.00-17.00 ( 381-431.8) ; bill 1.65-2.15 (41.9-54.6), depth at angle .60-.75 (15.2- 
19.1); tarsus 2.40 (61). 
Recognition Marks.—Small Gull size; feet greenish gray (serving to dis- 
tinguish from all but delawarensis, which is more extensively black on wing-tip 
with banded bill, and brachyrhynchus, which is smaller with relatively smaller 
beak) ; large wedge-shaped spot of white near tip of wing; otherwise much like 
argentatus, which it closely approaches in size. 
Nesting.— Not known to breed in Washington. Nests: on ground in colonies 
in inland marshes. Eggs: 3, colored as in other forms. Avy. size, 2.60 x 1.80 
(66 x 45.7). 
General Range.—Western and Arctic North America breeding chiefly in the 
interior from northern California and Utah northward; south in winter to Lower 
California and Mexico. 
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