250 Henshaw on a Netv Gull from Alaska. [July 



and finally, emboldened by the forbearance of his master, ran into the 

 room, and by dancing on the fire, put it out and filled the wigwam with 

 smoke. Then the patience of the Great Spirit could stand it no longer, 

 and giving the Grebe a kick, he exclaimed, "Deformed shalt thou go 

 through this world for the rest of thy days!" The imperial foot struck 

 him just at the base of the tail'. It knocked the body forward, but the 

 legs remained behind, and the Grebe has ever since! had the legs set so 

 far back on the body that it cannot walk., , 1 ' ■ 



ft- , , , , ; ' 



^^ON A NEW GULL FROM ALASKA. 



BY H. W. HENSHAW. 



In a series of Gulls collected by Mr. E. W. Nelson in Alaska 

 I find a specimen which difiers decidedly not only from any other 

 taken by that gentleman but from, any in the National Museum 

 collection. Believing it to be new I name and describe It as 

 follows : — • . 



Larus nelsoni^ sp. nov. 



(J, adult, bree.d.ing plumage (No. 97253, Coll. Nat. Mus., St. Michael's^ 

 Alaska, June 20, 1880. E. W. Nelson, collector) : Bill robust, relatively', 

 short; upper mandible slightly convex; lower mandible with moderate 

 angle. First primary longest. Tarsus a little shorter than middle toe 

 and claw. Head, neck, tail, and entire under pai'ts snowy white; mantle 

 pale pearl-blue, lighter than in glalices'ceiis, about as in leucopterus, and 

 kumlieni. J'rimaries : on they?r5/,' the inner web (except along the shaft) 

 and tip (for three inches) is pure white; outer web, dark slate-gray, 

 except at tip, the slate extending slightly farther in an acute angle to 

 shaft on this than on the inner web.' Inner web along the shaft, a 

 lighter shade of the same., fading ihto white" on both webs 'as the base is 

 approached. The second has Ihe slate almost wholly confined to the 

 outer web, upon which it begins two inches fr9m^the tip, where it intrudes 

 upon the inner web in the .shape of a small spot, and extends upwards 

 along the shaft for 2.25 inches, then makes an acute angle with .the shaft • 

 and extends 1.50 inches farther on outer margin., 'On th& third the slate 

 extends from about 4 inches from the tip nearly to the end, slightly 

 washing the inner web at its,pxtr.emity. Dn the fourth the slate is paler, 

 and begins on the outer web about one inch from the tip and reaches an inch, 

 then makes an acute angle A/vitb the 'shaft and extends rather more than 



