374 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [October 



Urinator lumme. Red-throated Loon. — Of not infrequent occur- 

 rence in the colder months, December and January, near the mouth of the 

 Anclote River. I also took one near Clearwater Harbor in February, 

 iSSo. 



Larus argentatus smithsonianus. American Herring Gull. — A rather 

 common winter visitor on the Gulf Coast. I observed the species on 

 May 21, 1886, just outside of Clearwater Harbor on the Gulf. (See Auk. 

 Vol. IV, No. 4, October, 1887, p. 274.) Most of the individuals observed 

 or taken have been in the gray plumage. 



Mr. John W. Atkins of Key West writes me : " In the winter and earlv 

 spring the Herring Gull is very plentiful in the harbor," referring to the 

 harbor at Key West. 



Larus delawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. — A rather common Avinter 

 visitor on the Gulf Coast, and I have noticed it in numbers near Clear- 

 water Harbor as late as May 21, 1886. (See Auk, Vol. IV, No. 4, Octo- 

 ber, 1887, p. 274.) The birds obsei-ved have been about equally divided 

 in regard to immature and full plumage. 



Larus atricilla. Laughing Gull. — An abundant fall, winter, and spring 

 bird on the Gulf Coast, and breeds, but so far as I am aware, not abund- 

 antly. See notes made in May at Charlotte Harbor, Auk, Vol. IV, No. 4, 

 October, 1S87, pp. 274, 278, 279. Mr. Atkins of Key West tells me that 

 this Gull is a common resident and breeds both at Key West and in the 

 vicinity of Punta Rassa. From the same source I learn that this species 

 breeds at the Dry Tortugas. 



Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte's Gull. — This species is not common 

 on the Gulf Coast of Florida so far as I am aware. I took a single indi- 

 vidual at Panassoffkee Lake, in Sumpter County, in the winter of 1875-76 

 and found a few at the mouth of the Withlacooche River in December and 

 January', 1879-80. I have no record of it in the immediate vicinity of 

 Tarpon Springs, and the only record south of that point is of a single 

 bird, apparently immature, taken at John's Pass, Hillsboro County, 

 December 17, 1886. 



Gelochelidon nilotica. Gull-billed Tern. — Apparently rare on the 

 portions of the Gulf Coast visited. The only record that I am aware of is 

 that of a male in winter plumage taken at John's Pass (see Auk, Vol. IV, 

 No. 2, April, 1887, p. 133). Also see 'Mammals and Winter Birds of East 

 Florida,' T- A. Allen, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Vol. II, p. 366, April, 

 871. 



Sterna maxima. Royal Tern. — A resident species, more abundant in 

 winter, and breeds commonly. On the low sand keys at the mouth of 

 Tampa Bay the breeding season begins about the middle of May, and is 

 at its highest three weeks later. 



Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida. Cabot's Tern. — A migrant, and very 

 abundant as far north as Clear Water. The birds are not to be found as 

 far north as Tampa Bay in the winter, and if they occur on this coast at 

 all at that season it is much to the south of Charlotte Harbor. I found 

 the first migrating north at Gasparilla Key early in May, and I have 



