448 Norton, Larus mintitus in Maine. [oct. 



long. Total length, 242 mm. (11.50 in.); total extent, 692 mm. 

 (27.25 in.); wing, 212 mm. (8.38 in.); culmen, 24 mm. (.94 in.); 

 tarsus, 25 mm. (.97 in.); middle toe, 26 mm. (1.00 in.). Bill 

 purplish black, feet dusky flesh color. 



The bird had been seen in the same vicinity several times during 

 the previous six weeks, so I was informed, usually alone when 

 feeding, though resting on one or more occasions with the Bona- 

 parte's Gulls. 



This is apparently the first occurrence of the Little Gull in New 

 England, the third in the United States, and about the sixth or 

 seventh occurrence in America. It is, therefore, entitled to rank 

 as an occasional straggler to this continent, and is deserving of 

 renewed interest. Consequently it seems timely to mention its 

 field and distinctive marks, and to review its distribution and its 

 American records. 



The adults are distinguished at once by the broad white pos- 

 terior border of the wing, without black, the pale pearl gray mantle, 

 and the slaty lower surface of the wings. The young, by the 

 inner vanes of the outer primaries being chiefly white, the inner 

 primaries with both webs gray, their tips white, the white increasing 

 in length as it proceeds in, and without black subterminal areas. 

 Moreover, it is the smallest known gull. 



In summer it occurs in Sweden, Russia, throughout northern 

 Siberia, more rarely in southern Siberia, and has been recorded 

 from the southern part of the Okhotsk Sea.^ It is found through- 

 out the year on the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas.^ Winters 

 in northern Africa and northern India,^ and in the North Sea in 

 the vicinity of Heligoland."* At the latter place the fall migration 

 is said to be a striking phenomenon.* In the British Islands it 

 occurs only as a frequent visitant. It is a bird partial to lacus- 

 trine and estuarine districts. 



In America, one was obtained at the Bermudas Jan. 22, 1849, 

 by Major Wedderburn, and another was killed the following 



> Taczanowski, Mem. St. Petersbourg Acad. Sci., VIII series, XXXIX, ii, pp. 

 1043, 1044. 



-Temminck, Man. d'Orn., pt. IV, p. 490. 

 ^Taczanowski, I. c. 



■* Gatke, Heligoland as an Orn. Observatory, p. 556. 

 « Gatke, I. c, p. 555. 



