ZOOLOGY. 275 



spot ; the first primary has a white spot over both wehs an hich and a half iu extent inside the tip; the second has a similar 

 mark of white, but less in extent ; the tips of the first and second primaries are black, but of all the others white ; the 

 secondaries and tertiaries largely marked with white at their ends; bill dusky yellowish green, except on the ri<lge of the 

 upper mandible, forward of the nostrils, and on tlie angle of the lower mandible, which parts are orange yellow ; tips of both 

 mandibles pale yellow ; legs and feet greenish yellow. 



Length, 16 to 17.50 inches ; extent, 41.50 to 44.50 ; wing, 12 75 to 14 ; tail, 5J ; bill. 1 5-lfi ; tarsi, 1|. 



Tbung : Mottled with grayish white and daik ash ; wings and tail dark brown, the latter ashy white at the base and tip ; 

 bill flesh color for half its length from the base, terminating with black : legs and feet flesh color ; iris brown. 



Hub — Pacific coast ; Pugct Sound. 



The gull to which Mr. Lawrence has, in a complimentary manner, applied my name is quite 

 abundant during the winter season in the bays and inlets of Puget Sound. In habits it much 

 resembles the L. glaucescens and, in certain conditions of plumage, (in its general appearance,) 

 it looks verj' much like a miniature of that species. They are also found much in company with 

 each other. I saw a gull, aiaparently of this species, attempting to break a clam by carrj-ing 

 it high in the air and then dropping it, in the same manner as is the practice of fish crows 

 and several of the other gulls. 



The greater number retire to the north on the approach of warm weather, but again return 

 to the sound about the 1st of November. They are fond of swimming about on the surface of 

 the water, and, when desirous of so doing, can swim very fast. They generally merely rest 

 dozingly, or lazily paddle about during their period of quiet ; as the tide retreats, however, 

 they join vast numbers of other gulls, fish crows, &c., and repair to the flats at the mouths of 

 the various rivers which empty into the sound, where they engage themselwes in search for 

 small fish, crabs, mollusks, &c., and for any refuse ofl'al which may be thrown up by the waves. 

 Their voice is a rather harsh, grating scream of not much power. — S. 



In spring and fall, for a few days of May and October, a small species of gull passed through 

 Shoalwater bay in flocks, and early in the morning would seek some quiet, sheltered cove to 

 feed, diving for fish rapidly while fluttering over the shoals, and rarely alighting on the water 

 except to rest. They kept up a continual chattering while thus engaged, and on the approach 

 of a boat would move off together for another place. Their flight was more rapid and easy 

 than that of the large kinds. The adult was white, with a pale gray mantle. I only obtained 

 one young specimen. — C. 



BLASIPUS HEERMANNI, (Cassin,) Bon. 



The White-headed Gull. 



Lams heermanni, Cass. Proc. Acad. N. Sc. Phil. VI, 1852, 187 .— Ib. 111. I, 1853, 28 ; pi. v. 

 Larus Bdcheri, Vigors, Zool. Jouru, IV, 1829, 358.— Ib. Zool. Blossom, 1834, 39. 

 Blusipm heervumni, BoN. Cons. Av. II, 1856, 21 1 . — Baird &, Lawke.nce, Gen. Rep. Birds, 848. 

 9 L'jTus fulyhvisus, Gould, Zool. Beagle, Birds, p. 141. 



Sp. Cii. — Adult : Bill red, both mandibles tipped with black ; feet and legs dark ; heail white, which color gradually blends 

 into an ashy lead color, enveloping the entire body above and below, darker on the back and wings and paler on the abdomen. 

 Secondary quills tipped with white, forming an oblique bar when the wings are folded. Superior coverts of the tail very 

 pale cinereous, nearly white. Quills and tail feathers brownish black, all of the latter narrowly tipped with white. Shafts of 

 the two first primaries white on the inferior surface of the wing. 



Length, 18.50 to 21 inches ; wing, 13.25 to 14 ; tail, SJ ; bill from angle to tip of upper mandible, 2^ inches. 



Young: Smaller ; enthe plumage lead color ; darker on the head and paler on the under surface of the body ; quills and 

 tail feathers brownish black, the latter narrowly tipped with white ; rump white. Iris brownish gray. 



ffab. — Coast of California. 



