ZOOLOGY. 273 



pursuing the steamers along the coast, within siglit of land, easily keeping np with the speed 

 of ten miles an hour, though having nothing like the power of wing of the albatross that 

 generally accompanies them at these times. 



In March these gulls are commonly seen in pairs, the female only distinguishable by its some- 

 what less size. They are said to lay on the islands off Cape Classet, and perhaps do also on some 

 within the Straits of De Fuca. They are still found during summer a long distance from these 

 places, but whether these are barren birds, or resort for food to such a distance, I do not know. 



In October, 1853, I saw a few large gulls 400 miles up the Columbia river, east of the Cascade 

 mountains, but could not ascertain whether they were of this species. I believe, however, 

 that they fly up that river at least 100 miles from its mouth. 



I could distinguish no difference in habits between the dark and light blue specimens, whicli 

 have the same peculiar bill and dimensions. — C. 



LARUS CALIFORNICUS, L a w r e n c e . 



The CaUforiu.a OuU. 



LaTus californiciif, Lawk. Ann. Lye. N. II. N. Y. VI, lS5i, 70. — Baied & LAWRENrE, Gen. llep. Bii'ds, 846. 

 Laroides ailifornicus, Bon. Cons. Av. II, lS.")(i, 220. 



Sr. Cii — Adult: The head, neck, under phimage, rump, and tail, pure white; bacli and wings pearl blue, darker than in 

 i. argentatus, bat not so dark as in L. occidenlalis ; the six outer primaries are marked with black towards their ends, extending 

 on the first for about two-thirds its length, and becoming less on the others, until on the sixth it consists only of a sub- 

 terminal bar ; the tips of all are white ; on the exterior quill the white extends about two inches, and is crossed near the end 

 by a black bar ; the secondaries and tertiaries terminate with white ; iris hazel ; bill yellow; basal part of the upper mandible 

 greenish gray for two-tliirds its length ; a blackish band crosses both mandibles near their ends ; it is darker in color on the 

 ower mandible, where it is bordered with or.ange ; tarsus and feet flesh color. 



Length, 20 to 22.50 inches; extent, 49 to 55; wing, 15.25 to 16; tail, 7; bill, 2; depth at angle, lO.IC ; tarsus, 2f ; 

 middle toe and nail, 2\ ; female smallest. 



Hah. — Pacific coast. 



The California gull is also an abundant species along the western coast, excepting in 

 summer, when they appear to retire beyond the limits of the Territory. In winter they 

 remain in small numbers on the coast, and probably for some distance up the Columbia as loUg 

 as it remains unfrozen. In habits they much resemble the western gulls, but seem more 

 inclined to dive for fish, though they also feed in the edge of the water during rising tide. I 

 have never seen them break shell-fish as the other does. I did not see any of them following 

 the vessels out at sea, and they appear to be confined to bays and rivers. 



The following are the colors of parts which change in drying : Iris dark brown, bronzed ; 

 bill greenish yellow, with a black band around angle, and sometimes an orange red patch 

 beneath ; inside of mouth orange red ; edge of lids dark dull red ; feet greenish white, in the 

 young grayish. — C. 



LARUS DELAWARENSIS, Ord. 



The Ring-billed GiUl. 



Larus detau'aretim, Oed, Guth. Geog. 2d Am. cd. II, 1815, 319. — Baied Si Lawrence, Gen. Rep. I'.irds, 84(j. 

 Larus hTcKliyrhyncJms,B.icu. & Sw. F. Bor. Am. 11, 1831,422, (not of Gould) 



Larus zonarhynchus, EicH. & Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 422.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 300. — Aun. Birds Am. VII, 1844, 152 ; 

 pi. ccccxlvi. — Bon. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 224. 

 Sr. Cb.— Adult : Ihe head, neck, under parts and tail are pure white ; back and wings very light pearl blue ; first and 

 second primaries black for two-thirds of their length towards the end, the three next quills have the black much less in 



35 Q 



