ALA.SKA. 109 



552. Lai'Eis iB'IdacityllEBS var. kotKebui, (Bp.) Covks.— Pacific EiUi- 

 wake. " Choniie-nausbkio goverooskie." 

 liissa kotzehtd, Bp. Cou.sp. Av., 11, 22(3, (1850.)— Coi;i:s. Pr. 

 Pbila. Acad., 305, (iy62.)— CouES. Pr. Pbila. Acad., 207, (18(iy.) 

 Lams tridactyhis, Dall & Baxx. Tr. Chic. Acad., 1, 305, (IbG'J.) 

 Lants trklacUjlm var. lcot:chui, CouES, Key, 314, (1872.) 



We have called attention, in our publicatiou.s above quoted, 

 to the fact that the Xoitli Pacific kittiwake has the hind toe 

 better formed than that of the Atlantic bird; and thi.s is the 

 sole basis of the supposed species. 



Although thus so similar to the true Larus tridactyhis that it 

 cannot be specifically distinguished, and also totality distinct 

 from the next species, there has been a strange confusion regard- 

 ing it. I do not venture now to add to the foregoing synon- 

 ymy several names more or less doubtfully here applicable. i>o- 

 naparte quotes as synonymous, Ji/.s.sa «/it« of Bruch, J. f O., 

 1855, 285 ; and also queries B. hrachyrhyncha of Bruch, ibkJ.y 

 1853, 103. Xo one of the four species of Eissa described by 

 Mr. Lawrence, in 1858, in Baird's work, pp. 854, Skiij, belongs 

 here. 



" This kittiwake breeds here by tens of thousands, in com- 

 pany with E. hrevirostriSj coming at the same time, but laying 

 a week or ten days earlier ; in all other respects it corresponds 

 in habit, and is in just about the same number. It is a remark- 

 ably constant bird in coloration, when adult, for I have failed 

 to observe the slightest variation in plumage among the great 

 numbers here under my notice. 



" In building its nest it uses more grass and less mud-cement 

 than the hrevirostris does. The eggs are more pointed at the 

 small end and lighter in the ground-color, with numerous spots 

 and blotches of dark brown. The chick is difficult to distin- 

 guish with certainty from the brevirostris, and it is not until two 

 or three weeks have passed that any difl'erence can be noted in 

 the length of bill and color of feet. 



"Like Bissa hrevirostris, the male treads the femnle on the 

 nest, and nowhere else, making a loud, shrill, screaming sound 

 during the ceremonj'." 



553. LaviBS brevii'osta'is, (Bn\yDT.)—Sliori-'biUc(l or Bed-lcggcd Kidi- 



icake. •' Goverooskie."' 

 Eissa hrevirostris, Brandt. — Lawr. B. N. A., 855, (1858.)— Daix 



& Baxx. Tr. Chicago Acad., i, 305, (1869.) 

 Larus brcvirostris, CouES. Key N. A. Birds, 315, (1872.) 



