270 ZOOLOGY. 



off the coast of Oregon, but it is well known that Dr. Townsend s specimens were very care 

 lessly labelled, and I think it very likely that in these instances the specimens were obtained 

 during his voyages to South America. 



The specimen of albatross that I obtained four hundred miles southwest of San Francisco 

 Avas caught in the usual way, by a hook baited with pork. In taking albatrosses in this manner 

 the hook is not swallowed but catches on the under side of the upper mandible, just behind its 

 decurved point. The bird we caught became very &quot;sea-sick&quot; as soon as it was hauled on 

 board, and very soon emptied the contents of its stomach upon the deck. Some of this ejected 

 food looked much like broken up pieces of the cuttle fish, (squid.) 



Albatrosses are generally seen more abundant in the wake of a vessel when the wind is ahead. 

 This may be caused by the slow rate that at such times the vessel is progressing; but I think 

 that the most likely explanation is that the wings are so shaped and placed that they act more 

 like sails than wings, and are calculated to sail very &quot;close to the wind.&quot; Added to the port 

 and starboard tacks that the bird can make, as well as the ship it is in company Avith, it has the 

 power to tack obliquely upwards and downwards in the air, which allows a double zigzag progres 

 sion. The explanation why a bird can fly against the wind is not at all needed, but why it can 

 soar against the wind, with apparently no exertion, and without (except at very long intervals) 

 even attempting to gain speed by flapping its ivings, (flying,) first puzzles the observer, and 

 seems contrary to all our preconceived notions of movement, gravity, and force. When these 

 birds are going with the wind they much more frequently flap their wings and fly like other 

 feathered creatures. S. 



The short-tailed albatross is abundant along the coast of the Pacific, where, however, I have 

 seen only the dark plumed young, in various stages, but always marked chiefly with black. 

 They often follow vessels, and are sure to appear soon after the dinner time of the steamships, 

 to pick up the scraps thrown overboard. 



Their flight is very rapid and graceful, performed apparently without effort, while their very 

 narrow, long wings give them a peculiar appearance. They often alight and rest on the water, 

 but can easily overtake the steamer going at twelve miles an hour, and sweep around it, beating 

 in its wake in search of food. C. 



Family LARIDAE. The Gulls. 



LARUS GLAUCESCENS, Li chtenstein. 



The Glaucous-winged Gull. 



&quot; Larcides glaucescens, LIGHT.&quot; BRCCH, Rev. Lar. in Cab. Jour. 1855, 281. 

 Larus glaucescens, (LicHT.) BAIRD & LAWRENCE, Gen. Eep. Birds, p. 842. 



SP. CH. Adult. Head and neck white, streaked with gray; under surface, rump, and tail pure white; back and wings light 

 pearl blue, (same shade as in L. argenlalus ;) the primaries are of the same color, but rather darker, with well defined white 

 tips; on the first quill the white extends on the tip for about two inches, and is crossed by a bar of the same color as the 

 primaries ; iris white ; bill yellow, with an orange red spot on the angle of the lower mandible ; legs and feet fleeh color. 



Length, 23 to 26 inches ; extent, 51. 50 to 58 ; wing, 16 ; tail, 7^ ; bill along ridge, 2f , deep at base, 11-16, at angle, 12-16 ; 

 tarsi, 2^ ; middle toe and claw, 2{j . Female smallest. 



Young mottled with grayish white and cinereous; the quills and tail bluish ash ; bill black, in some specimens yellowish at 

 base ; legs and feet dusky flesh color; much smaller in first year than adult. 



Hub. Northwest coast of North America. 



The glaucous-winged gull is extremely common on Ptiget Sound during the winter season, 



