° 1919 J Dwight, Larus fuscus and Larus affinis. 543 



affinis taimyrensis in 1911 (Mess. Orn., 2d year, no. 2, 1911, p. 

 149) to the Eastern race, and therefore the Western race must be 

 known as Larus affinis antelius. Buturlin says, (translated from 

 the Russian) "As the name 'affinis' now is proved to belong to 

 another species (no intergradation is known or is likely to exist 

 between the Lesser Black-backed and Siberian Herring Gulls), the 

 Eastern race of the Siberian Herring Gull must bear the name 

 Larus taimyrensis taimyrensis, Buturl., 1911, and the Western race 

 Larus taimyrensis antelius, Iredale, 1913." 



It is at this point I purpose taking up the question which re- 

 solves itself into two parts, one, ornithological, concerning the 

 relationship of the gulls under discussion, the other, nomenclatural, 

 concerning the names to be used. At least I may contribute 

 information that I have acquired from the examination of con- 

 siderable material available in this country. Briefly then I may 

 state that the specimens I have brought together confirm Mr. 

 Lowe's claim that there are two intergrading forms of the Lesser 

 Black-backed Gull, one with a brownish black back or mantle 

 that breeds in Scandinavia and probably southward and another 

 with a paler, slaty mantle that breeds in northern England, Scot- 

 land, the adjacent islands, and on the northern coast of Russia. 

 But as for names, there is an extensive literature bearing upon 

 this Gull and it is perhaps worth while to outline the history of 

 some of the names that have been used. 



Linnaeus (Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 1758, I, p. 136) first described Larus 

 fuscus as "L. albus dorso fusco" (i. e., white gull with swarthy 

 back), and in his ed. 12, 1766, p. 225, added "Rostrum Pedesque 

 flavi" (i. e., bill and feet yellow). This name prevailed until 

 Meyer and Wolf (Naturg. Vog. Deutschl., II, 1805, p. 32, col'd 

 pi.) substituted Larus flavipes, but their description, " back and 

 upper side of wings brownish black," is evidently that of fuscus, 

 and their plate is that of a bird with the back almost black. Meyer 

 and Wolf (Taschenb. Deutsch. Vogelkunde, II, 1810, pp. 469-471, 

 col'd frontisp.) again made use of Larus flavipes, repeating virtu- 

 ally the oLd description, and the plate, now smaller, is clearly that 

 of a black-backed bird. Curiously enough, at p. 471 they say in 

 conclusion, " The name which Linnaeus applies to this Gull (if it is 

 other than his Larus fuscus) does not fit very well, for the back 



