NO. 9 BIRDS OF ISLA COIBA, PANAMA—WETMORE 33 
Family LArtmpaAE: Gulls, Terns 
LARUS HEERMANNI Cassin: Heermann’s Gull, Gaviota de Heermann 
Larus Heermanni Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 6, Dec. 31, 
1852, p. 187. (San Diego, Calif.) 
On February 6, when the crash boat was about 3 miles south of 
Otoque, three of these gulls rose from the water near at hand, giving 
me a clear view of their colors and color pattern. The species has 
been recorded south in winter only to Champerico and San José on 
the Pacific coast of Guatemala, so that it was a distinct surprise to 
see them in the Gulf of Panama. 
LARUS ATRICILLA Linnaeus: Laughing Gull, Gaviota Reidora 
Larus atricilla LiInNAEUS, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 136. (Bahama 
Islands. ) 
On January 6 I recorded Laughing Gulls at sea throughout the 
journey from Balboa, and at Coiba one or two came daily to the beach 
in front of the Colonia Penal. I was interested to see one that was 
tearing at a small bird body on the beach stand its ground and drive 
off a black vulture that attempted to crowd it away from the food. 
As related above, on one occasion a laughing gull was killed rather 
wantonly by a peregrine falcon. 
A male taken January 9 had begun to molt on the back, scapulars, 
and wing coverts, but in the main was still in worn winter dress. 
THALASSEUS MAXIMUS MAXIMUS (Boddaert): Royal Tern, 
Gaviotin Real 
Sterna maxima Boppaerrt, Table des planches enluminéez, 1783, pl. 58. (French 
Guiana.) 
Scattered royal terns fished daily over the bay, or gathered in little 
groups to rest on the beaches. In journeys by boat I saw them stand- 
ing on drift floating on the water, often on bits of stick or board 
barely large enough to support them. One day I watched with interest 
while a frigate-bird pursued one of these terns for five minutes, but 
was so completely outmaneuvred that finally it gave up the chase. 
A female tern in winter plumage was taken January 18. 
STERNA ANAETHETUS NELSONI Ridgway: Bridled Tern, Gaviotina Monja 
Sterna anaetheta nelsoni Ripaway, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. 8, June 26, 
1919, pp. 487 (in key), 514. (Sihuatanejo, Guerrero.) 
On February 6, as our boat passed the two rocks of Frailes del 
Sur, off Punta Mala, suddenly scores of terns appeared, wheeling 
