1SS4.J Lawrencic 0)1 I lie Whitc-iviiigcd Gull in Netv I'ork. 2A.I 



mounted, and as it was unknown to him, to determine the 

 species. 



On examination I found it to be a young specimen of Larus 

 leucoptenis ; it was sent to him by Mrs. Greene Smith of Peter- 

 boro, N. Y,, at which place it was captured. 



I informed Dr. Merriam of the fact and suggested that he 

 should write to Mrs. Smith, asking for particulars concerning it. 

 He did so, and has communicated to me the following informa- 

 tion : — 



"Mrs. Greene Smith being away, the letter was answered by 

 Mr. H. C. Wilson, her overseer. Wilson says: 'The Gull 

 spoken of by you was shot by a farmer's boy, three-quarters of a 

 mile from this place, in an open spring place, i^ rods long by 10 

 or 13 feet wide, on the first day of February. The boy wounded 

 it and kept it alive for two or three days. It was doubtless 

 driven inland by the severe storm of about that date, as there is 

 no open water nearer than Seneca Lake, 75 miles from this 

 place.' This completes the data on the bird, I believe." 



Mr. Bell said it was in poor condition ; this was to be expected, 

 from inability to procure its customary food. 



The general plumage is of a dull white, marked all over with 

 light ashy-brown spots ; these are most distinct on the back and 

 wings, and less defined on the head, neck, and under plumage ; 

 the quills are white on the inner webs, and ashy on the outer ; 

 there is no indication of any black spots on the ends of the prima- 

 ries ; the tail-feathers are light ashy-brown, mottled with dull 

 white on the inner webs, except near their ends, where the ash 

 color is immaculate ; the bill is blackish-brown ; the tarsi and 

 toes are flesh-color. 



The w^ing measures 16 inches; the tail, 6.50; the tarsus, 2; 

 the bill from front, r.50; from gape, 3.50; height at angle, 70. 



This is the first immature specimen of this species I have had 

 the opportunity to examine ; it agrees very well with Audubon's 

 figure of the young ; the difterence in plumage from that of the 

 adult is very similar in character to that wdiich exists in Lams 

 glai(ciis. 



There are but few references to its appearance in our state. 

 Audubon says of it : 'T have not met with this species farther 

 south than the Bay of New York." 



I inquired of Dr. Merriam for further information concerning 

 it ; he wrote as follow^s : 'T have myself recorded Lams Icucop- 



