LARID^E THE GULI^S AND TERNS. 229 



Lams marinus, var. ft LATH. Ind. Om. ii, 1790,814. 



Larus glaucus BETZ. Fn. Suec. i, 1800. 156 (not of BB&NN. 1764). 



Larus argenteus BEEHM, Beitr. Vog. iii, 1822, 781, 799 (part). 



Larus argentatoides BBEHM, t c. 791, 799 (part). 



Laroides major BEEHM, Vog. Deutschl. 1831, 738. 



Laroides argetitaceus BKEHM, t. c. 7-12. 



? Laroides americanus BEEHM, Vog. DeutschL 1831, 743. 



Gotland a manteau gris BUFF. Hist. Nat. Ois. viii. 1781, 406. pi. 32: PI. Enl. 253. 



HAB. Europe and northeastern North America (casual only ?). 



SP. CHAB. A dult in summ r: Mantle pale pearl-blue (a shade darker than in L. glauces- 

 cens), the secondaries and tertials passing terminally into white. Outer primary black, 

 more slaty basally, the tip white, and a large white terminal spot across the inner, and 

 sometimes the outer, web; next quill black tipped with white, and usually without any 

 white except the apical spot; third, fourth, and fifth quills similar, but the basal hah*, or 

 more, light pearl- gray (this extending farther on the inner web), the line of demarcation 

 sharply denned; sixth quill light pearl-gray, broadly tipped with white, this preceded by a 

 broad subterminal space of black, widest on the outer web; seventh quill similar, but the 

 black much more restricted, and confined to the outer web; remaining primaries pale 

 pearl-gray, passing gradually into white at ends. Remainder of the plumage snow-white. 

 Bill deep chrome- or wax-yellow, with a large spot of bright red near the end of the mandi- 

 ble; eyelids bright yellow; iris silvery white or pale yellow; legs and feet flesh-color, 

 claws brownish black. Adult in winter: Similar, but head and neck, except underneath, 

 streaked with dusky grayish. "The bill is pure yellow, the lower mandible with an orange- 

 red patch toward the end; the edges of the eyelids yellow; the iris pale yellow; the feet 

 flesh-colored; the claws brownish black" (MACGILLIVBAY). Young, first plumage: Pre- 

 vailing color brownish ash, nearly uniform below, the head and neck streaked with white ; 

 upper parts variegated by borders to the feathers and irregular spots of pale grayish buff; 

 primary coverts, remiges, and rectrices blackish dusky. "The bill is bluish black, the base 

 of the lower mandible flesh-colored" (MACGii/LiVBAY). 1 Downy young: Grayish white, 

 the lower parts (except throat) immaculate; head marked with irregular spots of black, in- 

 definitely distributed; back, wings, and rump clouded with dusky grayish. Bill black, the 

 end yellowish; feet brownish. 



Total length, about 23.00 inches; wing. 15.75-17.90 (average, 16.38); culmen, 1.85-2.20 (2.07); 

 depth of bill through angle. .72-.80 (.77); tarsus, 2.30-2.72 (2.50); middle toe, 1.90-2.25 (2.07). 



The true Herring Gull is included in the list of Illinois birds 

 on the strength of a specimen obtained at Chicago, March 27, 

 1876, formerly in Mr. Nelson's collection, which some years ago 

 was identified by Dr. Coues as belonging to this form. The 

 specimen should, however, be re-examined, since the separation 

 of the ordinary American bird (L. argentatus smithsonianiis) now 

 rests on characters different, in part at least, from those on 

 which the separation was originally made.* 



* After next moult. "The bill is dull yellow, with a dusky patch on each mandible, and 

 a little red on the lower ; the iris yellow; the feet flesh-colored." (MACGILLIVBAT.) 



* According to Mr. Nelson ( Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vol. i, p. 41), the iris of this specimen 

 was "hazel." If this was really the case (which there is no reason for doubting), the speci- 

 men can hardly have been L. argentatus in either of its forms, which, when adult (the bird 

 in question was an adult female), always has the iris yellow. L. c-aUfornicus has a dark 

 brown or hazel iris, and it may possibly be that species; at any rate the case is one of con- 

 siderable importance and the specimen should, if it can be traced, be carefully re-examined. 



