'1910 J Norton, Lams minutus in Maine. 449 



month. ^ A few were seen, and a specimen procured, near Mazat- 

 lan, Mexico, March 27, 1868, by Colonel Grayson.- 



An immature specimen was shot at Fire Island, Long Island, 

 N. Y., about Sept. 15, 1887, and is preserved in the American 

 Museum of Natural History, New York City,^ while another speci- 

 men was taken at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, N. Y., May 10, 

 1902. This was a female " in immature plumage" and is preserved 

 in the Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences,^ 

 Brooklyn, N. Y. We therefore have five unchallenged American 

 records. 



There apparently exist important discrepancies between the 

 Sir John Franklin record and the grounds advanced for its elimi- 

 nation; therefore it may properly be reconsidered. This record 

 was rejected largely on account of the following statement from 

 Dr. Elliott Coues: "Professor Baird thinks that there is no good 

 reason to consider this bird an inhabitant of or even a visitor to 

 North America. It has been included in our fauna on the strength 

 of a statement of Sabine, who saw a small Gull, w^ith black head 

 and bill, greatly resembling the Larus minutus. This, however, was 

 before Larus honapartei was described and made known by Richard- 

 son in F. B. A., and a poorly preserved or immature specimen 

 might easily be referred to Larus minutus by one ignorant of the 

 existence of two species." ^ 



Swainson and Richardson say: "A specimen obtained on Sir 

 John Franklin's first expedition, was determined by Mr. Sabine 

 to be a young bird of the first year of this species [L. minutus], 

 exactly according with M. Temminck's description."*^ 



Coues has said: "Saw a small Gull with black head and bill." 

 This is plainly an adult bird, and if only seen belongs in the limbo 

 where Dr. Coues placed it. Richardson, however, has said: 

 " Obtained a young bird of the first year ■ . . . according exactly with 

 M. Temminck's description." 



On referring to Temminck for diagnostic features of the young 



1 Hist. N. Am. Bds., Water Bds., II, p. 265. 



2 Ibid. 



3 Dutcher, Auk, V, p. 172. 

 * Brai.slin, Auk, XX. p. 52. 



6 Proc. Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci., XIV. 1862, p. 311. 



6 Fauna Bor.-Amer., II, p. 426, fide Dutcher, Auk. V, p. 171. 



i 



