ZOOLOGY. 275 



spot; the first primary has a white spot over both web? an inch and a half in extent inside the tip ; the second has a similar 

 mark of white, but less in extent ; the tips of the first and second primaries are black, but all of the others white; the secondaries 

 and tertiaries largely marked with white at their ends ; bill dusky yellowish green, except on the ridge of the upper mandible, 

 forward of the nostrils, and on the angle of the lower mandible, which parts are orange yellow ; tips of both mandibles pale 

 yellow; legs and feet greenish yellow. 



Length, 16 to 17.50 inches; extent, 41.50 to 44.50; wing, 12.75 to 14; tail, 5 ; bill, 1^; tarsi, If. 



Young: Mott ed with grayish white and dark ash ; wings and tail dark brown, the latter ashy white at the base and tip; bill 

 flesh color fur half its length from the base, terminating wilh black ; legs and feet flesh color; iris brown. 



Hob. Pacific coast ; Puget Sound. 



The gull to which Mr. Lawrence has, in a complimentary manner, applied my name is quite 

 abundant during the winter season in the bays and inlets of Puget Sound. In habits it much 

 resembles the L. glaucescens, and, in certain conditions of plumage, (in its general appearance,) 

 it looks very much like a miniature of that species. They are also found much in company with 

 each other. I saw a gull, apparently of this species, attempting to break a clam by carrying 

 it high in the air and then dropping it, in the same manner as is the practice of fish crows 

 and several of the other gulls. 



The greater number retire to the north on the approach of warm weather, but again return 

 to the sound about the 1st of November. They are fond of swimming about on the surface of 

 the water, and, when desirous of so doing, can swim very fast. They generally merely rest 

 dozingly, or lazily paddle about during their period of quiet ; as the tide retreats, however, 

 they join vast numbers of other gulls, fish crows, &c., and repair to the flats at the mouths of 

 the various rivers which empty into the sound, where they engage themselves in search for 

 small fish, crabs, mollusks, &c., and for any refuse offal which maybe thrown up by the waves. 

 Their voice is a rather harsh, grating scream of not much power. S. 



In spring and fall, for a few days of May and October, a small species of gull passed through 

 Shoalwater bay in flocks, and early in the morning would seek some quiet, sheltered cove to 

 feed, diving for fish rapidly while fluttering over the shoals, and rarely alighting on the water 

 except to rest. They kept up a continual chattering while thus engaged, and on the approach 

 of a boat would move off together for another place. Their flight was more rapid and easy 

 than that of the large kinds. The adult was white, with a pale gray mantle. I only obtained 

 one young specimen. C. 



BL ASIPUS HEERM ANNI, (Cassin,) Bon. 



The White-headed Gull. 



Larus heermanni, CASS. Proc. Acad. N. Sc. Phil. VI, 1852, 167. IB. 111. I, 1853, 28; pi. v. 

 Larus Bdchtri, VIGORS, Zool. Joura. IV, 1829, 358. IB. Zool. Blossom, 1834, 39. 

 Blasipus heermanni, BON. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 211. BAIRD & LAWRENCE, Gen. Rep. Birds, 848. 

 ? Larus fulginosus, GOULD, Zool. Beagle, Birds, p. 141. 



SP. CH. Adult: Bill red, both mandibles tipped with black; feet and legs dark; head white, which color gradually blends 

 into an ashy lead color, enveloping the entire body above and below, darker on the back and wings and paler on the abdomeii. 

 Secondary quills tipped with white, forming an oblique bar when the wings are folded. Superior coverts of {he tail very pale 

 cinereous, nearly white. Quills and tail feathers brownish black, all of the latter narrowly tipped with white. Shafts of the two 

 first primaries white on the inferior surface of the wing. 



Length, 18.50 to 21 inches; wing, 13.25 to 14; tail, 5 ; bill from angle to tip of upper mandible, 2 inches. 



Young : Smaller; entire plumage lead color; darker on the head and paler on the under surface of the body; quills and tail 

 feathers brownish black, the latter narrowly tipped with white ; rump white. Iris brownish gray. 



Hob. Coast of California. 



