if 



LARID.E - THE GULLS AND TEUNS — LARUS. 



249 



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Sir John Riclianlson tirst refers to this hird as a distinct species on the strength 

 of an individual obtained at Great Hear Lake. This exanipk! was a fenude that liad 

 iicen killed on the '2'M of May, ISL'G. .Mr. Murray states that lie nu't witii this species 

 on Hudson's liay ; and ^Ir. IJernard Koss also saw it on the Mackenzie River. 



Dr. Cooper mentions liaving also met with it, during its migrations, near the 

 ('ulund)ia Kiver. He found it jiassing only during the spring and fall ; hut specimens 

 are said to have been obtained by others near the Straits of Fuca, both in December 

 and in July. He is of opinion that in all i)rol)ability these birds proceed south oidy 

 as far as the extreme northern limits of California, and only during the extremity 

 ol' winter. Dr. Cooper found them in flocks that were constantly fluttering over 

 slioal water, rapidly diving for tish, and keeping up a constant chattering. In their 

 Higlit their movements were rapid and easy. They were rather shy. 



Mr. Bannister found this species abundant on the marshes and ponds along the 

 canal or channel whicli sejiarates the Island of St. Michael's from the mainland. It 

 was not so abundant on the more open water near the fort. 



Mr. D.dl speaks of it as being eminently a river Gull, and as abundant from Fort 

 ^'ukou to the sea; but it was not seen by him on the sea-coast. He states that he 

 obtained its eggs in gn'at abundance about the mouth of the Yukon — wliere a variety 

 was noticed having a bright yellow bill — and also the young (Julls in their downy 

 liliiiiiage near Fort Yukon. The black-and-white pattern on the wings of this s])ecies 

 is said to vary a good deal ; not so nuich in itself, as in relation to the dilTerent feath- 

 ers, as if it had been carelessly stamped on with the hand by a die. Tliese birds 

 Wire eaten by the old Indians. 



Mr. ilacFarlane found this species breeding at various jioints, near the Arctic Se.a, 

 lictween the Mackenzie Yalley and tlie Anderson, and from there to the Yukon. One 

 lust, which was merely a small cavity in the sand, and which contained two eggs, was 

 found on Lockhart Iviver on the 2<Stli of May; another was seen. Jime 3, on the 

 ground near a small lake i:i tlic; neighlioriiood of .l''i)rt Anderson ; and a third, obtained 

 on the lOth of June near Fort .\nderson, contained three eggs. This last nest was 

 made of hay, and was placed in\ a stinnp, four feet from the ground, near a small 

 lake; the ])arent bird was seciire<l. A fourth, also containing tliree eggs, was found 

 on tlie foUowing day in a precisely similar situation. On the LMst of June a nest of 

 tliis species, which was built on a tree at least ten feet from the ground, was seen 

 near Uendezvous Lake. It was comiiosed of sticks and twigs, and was lined with 

 mosses and hay. Both parents were near the spot, and the male was secured. 

 Another nest was taken on Swan Itiver, in the Barren Grounds; it also was built 

 on a tree, in the same situation as the last mentioned, and was similar in its con- 

 st ruction. 



S|iecimens of this (iuU were also secured during the breeding-sea.son on Slave 

 Kiver, iit Fort Resolution, and on the Yukon, by Mr. Kennicott; at Big Island by 

 Mr. Rtid and by Mr. Ross; at Fort Rae by Mr. Clarke; and at various places by 

 Mr. MacFarlane. 



The eggs iu the Smithsonian Collection were taken from Great Slave Lake, the 

 Yukon, Anderson River, Fort Rae, Fort Resolution, and IVale's Rivt-r. Six eggs 

 luvscnt tlie f(dlowing measurements: 2.(X) by M") inches; L'.OO by LdO ; 2.05 by 

 l.-IO; 2.25 by 1.70; 2.."{0 by 1.70; and 2..".ri by l.(;0. Tlieir grouud-ecdtu- is a greenish 

 oUvc-lirown, the olive tending to gre«>n in some, and to brown in others. The markings 

 are of various forms, but are cliiefly small spots of a dark butfy umber, larger and 

 more numerous towards the more roundeil portion of the egg. 



vol.. II, -- 3'2 



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