32b' MR. R. SWINHOE ON THE BIRDS OF CHINA. [JuUC 23, 



407. Larus crassirostris, Vieill. 



L. melanurus, Teram. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. 



Albus, dor so alisque fusco-cinereis ; remigibus primariis nigris, ce- 

 teris cum tectricium apicibus albis ; cauda alba, fascia subter- 

 minali latissime nigra : rostra validiusculo, Jlavido, apice nigro 

 annulato : pedibus fusco-carneis. 

 Long. 17 poll. 



This species breeds in Japan and Talienwan, repairing in large 

 numbers to the South China coast. In full plumage it can always 

 be distinguished from L. niveus by its black tail-band, its much 

 darker mantle, and by its large bill, banded at the end with black 

 and crimson. The immature are very much browner than those of 

 the other bird. The different stages of its plumage have been well 

 figured in the ' Fauna Japonica.' I have numbers of specimens from 

 various parts of China, 



408. Larus glaucescens, Licht. ; Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 216. 



L. glaucus, Briinn. ; Midd. Sib. Reise. 

 L. brachyrhynchus, Gould. 



Ex Ocean. Pac, Arct. et Kamtschatka. Not yet met with on the 

 coasts of China or Japan. Simillimus L. glauco, sed minor (long. 

 2 ped.), et remigibus perlaceis, nee nigris nee albis, apice tantura 

 candidis : rostro flavo, angulo mandibulae aurantiaco. 



409. Larus leucopterus, Faber; Midd. Sib. Reise. 



A small form of the preceding (length 20 inches), with compara- 

 tively longer wings, said by MiddendorfF to occur also in North-east 

 Asia. 



410. Larus occidentalis, Aud. Synop. Birds of Am. p.. 328. 



" Bill robust, compressed, yellow, with an orange-red patch to- 

 ward the end of the lower mandible ; iris light hazel ; feet flesh- 

 coloured ; head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail pure white ; back 

 and wings light greyish blue, of a deeper tint than in L. argentatus ; 

 edges of the wings and extremities of the quills white ; first seven 

 quills greyish black toward the end, that colour including the outer 

 webs and the greater part of the inner of the two first, and on the 

 rest gradually diminishing, so as on the seventh merely to form a 

 subterminal bar ; the first quill with a patch of white on both webs 

 near the end ; the tips of all white. 



" This species, which is very intimately allied to Larus argentatus, 

 is remarkable for the great depth and comparative shortness of its 

 h{\\:'—Aud. 



Length 27 inches; wing ISg ; tail 8^; bill, along culmen, 2^ ; 

 height at angle ■^^. 



The above description answers exactly to the large form of Gull, 

 allied to L. argentatus, that visits our southern coasts in winter. I 

 have frequently procured them at Amoy in that season in all stages, 

 but more frequently in the immature. It is the West American re- 



