22 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Pinos there appears to be a natural petroleum well in the 

 ocean, and on stormy days the oil on the troubled waters 

 prevents the waves from breaking over a considerable 

 space. December 29th, returning from a three miles 

 trip west of the Point against a strong southeast wind and 

 a heavy cross-sea, we sought this spot to rest for awhile 

 and watch the gulls as they came out of the bay and went 

 down the coast. In one little flock that passed near by 

 there was a Pacific Kittiwake, which came close to the 

 boat when a dead Gull was tossed overboard as a decoy. 

 It proved to be a young female, and was the only example 

 of the species obtained during my stay. 



Larus glaucus. Glaucous Gull. — An immature male, 

 shot Dec. 19th, is referred to this species (not to barrov- 

 ianus), it having the following dimensions, in inches: 

 Length, 27.50; chord of wing, 18.30; chord of exposed 

 culmen, 2.40; depth of bill through angle, .82; depth at 

 base of exposed culmen, .92; tarsus, 2.80. 



Dr. Cooper has previously recorded either this Gull or 

 barrovianus from California under the name of ' Larus 

 Hutchinsii* (Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., vol. iv, pp.9, 10). 



Larus glaucescens. Glaucous-winged Gull. — Whales 

 frequently came into the bay. Occasionally there would 

 be several in sight at one time. Often they would be at- 

 tended by a great train of Gulls and Pelicans, " feeding 

 upon the slop-over." The Glaucous-winged was one of 

 the most numerous of the Gulls in these gatherings. In 

 the Carmel Valley near the ocean I found them in com- 

 pany with Western Gulls following the plough as Robins 

 are accustomed to do in spring in upper South Carolina. 

 The tameness and familiarity of the water birds on this 

 coast strikingly contrast with the wanness of those of 

 the North Atlantic. 



