Vol. II, Pt. I] GIFFORD— BIRDS OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 37 



were seen hovering over a school of fish. Two birds taken 

 in latitude 2° 29' South, longitude 90° 4' West, had each a 

 specimen of water-strider of the family Hydrometridse in its 

 stomach; otherwise, save for wing-discs of pteropods, their 

 stomachs were empty. 



On the cliffs of northeastern Indefatigable Island in No- 

 vember, and on Daphne in November and July, only adult 

 gulls were seen. The same remark applies to Tower Island 

 in the middle of September, 1906, save for one very young 

 chick. 



In their descriptions of this species, both Mr. Ridgway^ 

 and Mr. Saunders^ fail to mention a pinkish blush on the 

 white of the under parts. This is quite marked in a number 

 of fine fresh-plumaged Academy specimens of both sexes, 

 taken about the first of August from the islet off northeast 

 James. All the birds captured at that place at that time had 

 enlarged reproductive organs, although some did not have the 

 pinkish blush. It was not noted to any extent in specimens 

 taken elsewhere. 



This gull differs from Xeina sabinii and other small 

 hooded gulls in its moult. The dark hood is apparently kept 

 the year around after the bird attains maturity. Nothing in 

 the Academy's series would indicate the contrary, and the sub- 

 joined notes on this series seem to show that such is the case. 

 The study of moults and plumages in this species is compli- 

 cated by the fact that it has been found breeding on various 

 islands during eight months of the year. 



Two specimens taken on Hood Island in latter September, 

 1905, are in fresh plumage. Scattered pin-feathers are yet 

 to be found in the white under parts and in the interscapular 

 region. In one specimen the distal primary of each wing is 

 still in the sheath basally. As this gull nests on Hood both 

 in June and October, the question is whether this moult, which 

 is just closing, is postnuptial or prenuptial. I am inclined to 

 believe it is the latter. 



Two specimens from Brattle Island, male and female, Oc- 

 tober 30, are in fairly fresh plumage. No feather-growth is 

 indicated, however, and the feathers of the mantle show 

 slight wear in places. At the time of our visit to Brattle 



iProc. U. S. N. M., V. 19, p. 638. 

 ^'Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., v. 25, p. 166. 



