olo General Notes. • [ju"y 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Recent Occurrence of Iceland Gulls near New York. — During the 

 past few years there have been some sight identifications of the Iceland Gull 

 {Larns leiicopterus) near New York City, which indicate that this species, 

 though rare, occurs here every year or two between the middle of January 

 and end of March. In this connection attention is called to remarks on 

 the occurrence of the Iceland Gull near Boston and its satisfactory- identi- 

 fication in life in ' The Auk,' July, 1908 (F. H. Allen, Larus kumlieni and 

 other northern Gulls in the neighborhood of Boston, p. 296). As the 

 validity of " sight " records depends on the circumstances under which 

 they are made, we quote pertinent matters from the notes of the respective 

 observers. — 



1906, March 5. Observations by Dr. W. H. Wiegmann. 



" The following observations were made [on a single Iceland Gull] oppo- 

 site the Hoboken terminal of the Lackawanna R. R. and adjacent northerly 

 pier .... Size noticeably smaller than the numerous Herring Gulls present : 

 body more bulky with shorter and broader wings: entire head, neck, under 

 surface of wings and under parts, pure white: mantle lighter than in 

 argentatus: bill yellow, no carmine, spot observed; distal ends of primaries 

 white .... Larus leucopterus would fly towards water, settle and pick up 

 some drifted garbage; then was at a distance of less than 50 ft. from my 

 position. I also saw the bird pass over me at 25 feet." 



1912. Observations by Ludlow Griscom. 



" Feb. 6th. Hudson River from Liberty St. Ferry. Just as I was 

 leaving the slip, several gulls flew by about 50 yds. away, and I saw at once 

 that one of them was one of the white-winged species, a fact immediately 

 verified by my prism glasses. At first the birds flew away, but a minute 

 later wheeled with the other gulls and hovered over the same spot while 

 the ferry came nearer, giving perfect views. It [the Iceland Gull] was 

 noticeably smaller than the Herring Gulls, the head and bill appearing 

 much slighter and more slender. The bird was an adult pure white 

 with pearl gray on mantle and wings. The red spot on the lower mandible 

 was noted also. As the ferry came very near indeed, all the gulls rose in the 

 air and flew directly over my head at a maximum distance of 30 feet just 

 clearing the upper deck, when every marking, except the red spot on the 

 bill, could be seen with the naked eye." 



" March 29th. Central Park, New York City. 



Mr. S. V. LaDow and I saw an adult Iceland Gull with a large flock of 

 Herring Gulls on the Reservoir. The smaller size and slenderer head and 

 bill was again noted .... [In my absence] the Iceland Gull approached 

 within 20 feet of Mr. La Dow thus giving him an incomparable observa- 

 tion." 



1915 and 1916. Observations by J. T. Nichols. 



