WESTERN GULL. 321 



have not met with any account of it, is about equal to Larus marinng 

 in size, and resembles L. argentatus in colour, but differs from both in 

 many respects, as will be seen from the annexed description. It is 

 especially remarkable for the great depth and comparative shortness of 

 its bill, which in this respect approaches to L. melanoleucos of New 

 South Wales. The adult specimen unfortunately has the wings imper- 

 fect, the primary quills having been only partially developed ; but the 

 wings of the younger bird are complete. 



Adult Male. 



Bill shorter than the head, robust, compressed. Upper mandible 

 with the dorsal line straight as far as the end of the nostrils, decurved 

 toward the end, the ridge convex, gradually narrowed to the point, the 

 sides nearly flat, the edges sharp, inflected, toward the end direct and 

 arcuato-declinate, the tip rather sharp ; lower mandible with the angle 

 long and narrow, the outline of the crura slightly arched, the dorsal 

 line beyond the prominence at the angle ascending and slightly con- 

 cave, the sides erect and nearly flat, the edges sharp, inflected, decurved 

 toward the narrow tip. Nostrils medial, lateral, linear-oblong, wider 

 anteriorly, in the fore pait of the nasal groove, which is rather long 

 and narrow. 



Head large, broadly ovate, narrowed anteriorly. Neck of moderate 

 length, thick. Feet of moderate length, rather slender ; tibia bare for 

 an inch and a quarter, reticulate ; tarsus rather short, somewhat com- 

 pressed, covered anteriorly with numerous scutella, laterally with angu- 

 lar scales, behind with numerous small somewhat rectangular scales. 

 Hind toe very small and elevated ; the fore toes rather long, the fom-th 

 little shorter than the third ; all scutellate above, and connected by 

 reticulate webs ; the lateral toes margined externally with a thick mem- 

 brane. Claws small, slightly arched, somewhat compressed, blunt, that 

 of the middle toe with the inner margin expanded. 



The plumage is full, close, elastic, very soft and blended, on the 

 back and wings rather compact. Wings very long, broad (four outer 

 primaries only partially developed) ; secondaries broad and narrowly 

 rounded. Tail even (not fully developed). 



Bill yellow, with an orange red patch toward the end of the 

 lower mandible. " Iris light hazel." Feet flesh-coloured, claws dusky. 

 The head, neck, lower parts, rump, and tail, are pure white ; the back 



VOL. v. X 



