236 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Larus Philadelphia Si.Viny-Eiifi.'P. Z. 8 lS78.206.-ErDGW.Nom. K. Am. B. 1881, So. 675. 



Larus iChroecocpphalus) Philadelphia CouES, B. N. W. 1874, 655. 

 Larus minutns Sabine, App. Franklin's Voy. 1823, 696.— Sw. i KiCH.F. B.-A. il. 1831, 426 (not 



of Pall. 1776 . 

 Larus capistratus Bonap. Speco. Comp. 1828, 69 (not of Temm. 1820). 

 ? Larus melanorhvnchus Temm. PI. Col. livr. 85, pi. 504 (1830; Chili). 

 Larvs honapartii Sw. & Rich. F.B.-A. ii, 1831, 425, pi 72.— Nutt Man, ii. 1834,291.— AUD. Orn. 



Blog. iv. 1838, 212 pi. Ml; Synop. 1839, 323; B. Am. vii. 18'ft, 131, pi. 452. 

 Larus ( hroicocephalun) subulirostris "Bp," Bruch, J. f. 0. 1853, 105 (type in Mus. ]\Iainz). 



Hab. The wliole of North America, but no valid record of its occurrence south of the 

 United States, except Bermudas (Hurdis). Breeds from Manitoba (probably also northern 

 Minnesota) northward. 



Sp. Char. Adult, in summer: Head and upper part of the neck dark plumbeous, the 

 eye'ids marked by an elongated whie spot. Lower pait of the neck, entire lower parts, 

 tail, upper tail coverts, lownr and lateral portions of the rump, border of the wing, alulae, 

 primary coverts, and greater portion of the primaries snow white, the ne. k and lower parts 

 with a delicate rose-pink blush in fresh specimens. Mantle, including upper and middle 

 portions of rump, delicate light pearl-blue. Three outer primaries chiefly white, the outer 

 web of the exterior quill, and the terminal portion of all, deep black; four h quill similar to 

 the third, but the inner web pale grayish blue; fifth and sixth quills pale grayish blue, with 

 a large subtei minal black space, and tipped with white (third and fourth quills also marked 

 with a small white apical spot); remaining quills pale giayish biue, without white tips, but 

 marked near the end, u^ually on inner web only, with a black spot. Bill deep black; iris 

 dark brown; interior of mouth, with legs and feet, rich clear orange red; ' claws black. 

 Adult, in winter: Similar, but head and neck white, the occiput tinged with grayish, and 

 the auricular region marked by a spot of dusky gray. Legs and feet flesh-color. Young, 

 first plumage: Sides and under pait of head and neck, entire lower parts, upper tail cov- 

 erts, and basal three fourths of the tail pure white; crown, occiput, and upper part of the 

 back b ownish gray; a dusky grayish spot on the auricular region; scapulars and posterior 

 interM apulars grayish brown, tipped with piile buff; central area of lesser wing-covert 

 region dusky brownish gray; rest of wing-coverts, edges of secondaries, greater portion 

 of inner primaries, with upper and central puitions of the rump, light grayish blue; band 

 across end ot tail blai'k or dusky, the tip narrowly whiti.-h. Outer pr.mary with the entire 

 outer web, and a stripe along the inner next the shaft, with the end, black, the remaining 

 portion white; second and third quills similar, but the white successively more r stricted; 

 fourth, bluish white on both webs (inner web more bluish), the subterminal portion black 

 for niuie than an inch, the tip with a small white spot; remaining quills similar, but deeper 

 bluish gray. Bill dusky; feet pale brownish (in skin). Young, second uear: Similar to the 

 adult in winter plumage, but central lesser wing-coverts dusky, tail crossed by a subtermi- 

 n.il bund of dusky bi own, and primaries marked as in the first p.umage. 



Total length, about 13.00-14.0ii inches; exieut, 32.U0; wing, 10.25; eulmen, 1.20; depth ot bill 

 through nostrils, .25; tarsus, 1.40; middle toe with claw. 1.40. 



. This pretty little gull, the smallest of the American species, 

 is a transient migrant in Illinois, occasionally wintering in the 

 southern portion of the State. 



' In some very high-colored specimens the feathers immediately surrounding the 

 naked rim of the eyelids are line orange-red. 



