224 



LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS — LONGIPENNES. 



of Vancouver Island by Mr. R. Urowne; and Mr. Bischoff obtained a large nuuibcr 

 of specimens at Sitka, and others at Kadiak. Mr. Dall mentions it as being a coni- 

 nion si)ecios on the west coast, from California northward. It also occurs as far cast 

 as Cumberland, where Mr. L. Kumlicn found it quite common in the ujiper Cumbci- 

 land waters, and where it was breeding. These Gulls came as soon as there was oijcii 

 water. Their nests were placed on the shelving rocks, on high cliffs. They are Udt 

 known to occur on the coast of Greenland.' 



Dr. Cooper mentions this as being an exclusively winter bird in California, where 

 it makes its ai)pearance in October in large numbers, wandering along the coast iis 

 far south as San Diego, and even farther, remaining until May. A few individuals 

 in immature jjlumage occur all the year round. 



This (Jull feeds on dead animal matter of all kinds, as well as on fish and crus- 

 taceans ; but it is very rarely seen in the interior, or far inland. Its voice is ratliiT 

 high, yet not loiul ' r querulous, being very different from that of the noisy orri- 

 dentalls, which in many other respects it very closely resembles. Di'. Coojjcr is quite 

 sure that it does not breed on any island south of San Francisco, or on any part (jf 

 the coast as far north as latitude 49°. 



Mr. Dall found this species resident on all the Aleutian Islands which he visited, 

 and by far the most abundant and prevalent, others being only occasionally observed. 

 The habit of this and of other species of breeding on isolated rocks and snuill islands 

 is attributed by him to their appreciation of the immunity thus obtained from tlic 

 attacks of foxes on the eggs and the J'oung broods. On the 2d of June, 1S72, many 

 eggs in a jjretU' fresh condition were obtained on th(> Chica Kocks and islets in the 

 Akutan I'ass. The eggs Avere very abundant, not nujre than three being usually found 

 together, and they were laid in almost any snuill depression of the ground, with little 

 or no attemjjt at a lining. About the 18th of July, in the Shunuigins, at Coal Har- 

 bor, on a peculiar high round island, an abundance of eggs were t)btained ; but most 

 of them had been ineidjated for some time. In this case, the island being covei'cil 

 with tall, rank grass, the nests were almost concealed ; and either from the dead grass 

 naturally occurring in the depression, or for sonu' other reason, the nests all iiiid 

 more or less of this nuiterial in and about them. Tlu' Gulls built stilely on the top 

 of the highest part of the island, in the gn.ss, and never in the lower jjortion near 

 the shore, or on the shelves of the rocky and ](recipitous sides. Mr. Dall also stales 

 that this species is a resident of the Aleutian Islands throughout tlie year. The young 

 of this bird were obtained in the down, about the middle of July; and the iris of 

 these, as well as their bill and feet, was of a black color. 



The late Mr. James Hepburn found this Gull breeding on Williamson's Itock, not 

 far from Smith's Island, and near to and south of San Juan, in the Straits of San 

 Juan de Fuca. 



Eggs of this sjjccies in the Smithsonian C(dlection (Xo. 12852), obtained at Sitka, 

 have a grouiul-color of a i)ale grayish drab, with markings of a pale lilac-gray and a 

 rich dark se])ia. The ground-color in various specimens varies from a ]iale blue 1o 

 a brownish clay-color. Four eggs ju'esent the following measurements : 2.70 inches 

 by 1.S5 ; 2.80 by 1.90 ; 2.85 by 1.95 ; 2.75 by 1.95. ' 



• Mr. Kiimliuit's obsiTvutioiis here tiuotud relate to what has since been desi'ribt^d by Mr. Hrewster :is 

 Lants Kainlicni. — J. A. A. 



