232 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



LAEUS ICHTHYAETUS, Pallas. 



Larus ichthyaetus, Pallas, Travels, II, p. 533, (French ed., Paris, 1789.) 



The GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



Pallas Zoog. Rosso- Asiat., pi. 77: Eiippel Atlas, pi. 17. 



Two specimens in the collection of the expedition are from the Bay of Yedo. Both are young 

 hirds, but agree precisely with specimens, hearing the name above given, in the collection of the 

 Philadelphia Academy, and of the correctness of which we have no doubt. The descriptions 

 and figures above cited apply, however, to this species in adult plumage. 



This bird presents a remarkable anomaly in the color of its head, belonging, as it does, to 

 the same group of large gulls as Larus fuscus, but having the entire head black, as in the genus 

 Xema. In the young birds now before us, the head is white, with nearly every feather striped 

 longitudinally with light brown. The middle feathers of the tail are brown, mottled with 

 white at their bases, and the outer feathers mottled in the same manner throughout their length ; 

 bill large, rather wide (or high) towards its top, with a conspicuous transverse bar of black. 



This specimen is not given in Fauna Japonica, and is another contribution of the present 

 expedition to our knowledge of the ornithology of Japan. 



"Bay of Yedo, March, 1854; eyes gray." 



Mr. Heine remarks of this species : 



"This bird was abundant in Yedo bay, where large numbers were constantly flying around, 

 with other species, and busily engaged in picking up food from the refuse thrown overboard 

 from the ships of the squadron, especially after meal-times." 



LARUS MELANURUS, Temminck. 



Larus melanurus, Temm. pi. col. V, liv. 77, (about 1827.) 



Larus crassirostris, Vieill. Nouv. Diet., XXI, p. 508 ? 



Temm. pi. col., 459 ; Temm. and Schleg. Faun. Japon. Aves, pi. 88. 



A specimen in adult plumage, from Hakodadi. It is precisely as represented in the excellent 

 plate of Fauna Japonica, to which we refer above. 



This handsome bird is strongly characterized by the color of its tail, which is white at its 

 base and tip, with the intermediate space black, presenting, when folded, the appearance of 

 being entirely of the latter color, topped with white. Its head and neck are of a remarkably 

 pure snowy white, back and wing coverts dark cinerious. It may be the same as Larus crassi- 

 rostris, Vicillot, but the description cited above is rather short to be satisfactory or conclusive in 

 this difficult group. 



"Hakodadi, May, 1854; eye black." 



Mr. Heine observes : "This gull abounded in the Bay of Hakodadi, and was frequently killed 

 by our men when on fishing excursions. As fresh provisions were scarce articles, it proved to 

 be an acceptable addition to their messes, and was pronounced quite palatable." 



LARUS BRUNNEICEPHALUS ? 



Larus brunneicephalus, Jerdon, Madras Jour., 1840, p. 225? 

 Larus leucopthalmus, Temm. pi. col. V, liv. 65? 

 Temm. pi. col. 366? 



We find a single specimen in the collection of the expedition, which is evidently that of an 

 immature bird, having the head nearly white. It is, however, a species of the sub-genus Xema, 



