LARXJS HEERMANNI, WHITE-HEADED GULL. 641 



Bonaparte, in his Conspectus, places Lis own Gacina or Lams Tcamfsrhailcensis as a 

 synonym of niimts Pallas, and also quotes with a query the Gaviita cilriroslria Bruch, a 

 species founded upon Larus c'lirirostris Schiniper. Bruch says that camtsehatkensis is an 

 "undoubted synonym "of his [Bruch's] citrirostris. Upon the authority, then, of these 

 writers, their species are reduced to the iiiveus Pallas. 



lu 1H31 Richardson gives as species of North American '■ Mew Gulls," canus "Liun.," 

 and zoiiorlujiichus and brachyrhynch us Richardson. The error here is in giving canus as 

 identical with that of Europe, and in separating hrachyrhynohus from it ; a mistake 

 magnified by nearly all authors, considering all tl(ree names as referring to a single 

 species, zonorkynchus. Camis of Nuttall's Manual (1834) is the same as that of Rich- 

 ardson ; catius of Bonaparte's Synopsis (18'28) is the ddawarensis. 



Examination of the type-specimens of i«i'«.s sucMeyi and Bissa septenirionaKs of Law- 

 rence, and comparison of them with the type of L. bracliyrhnncluis Richardson, shows 

 all three to be identical. Most of tlie specimens of " sucldeyi " are immature, and agree 

 in the minutest particulars with Richardson's type. The type of Eissa seplcntrionaUs 

 is quite mature, and agrees entirely with the large series of skins from the interior of 

 Arctic America, representing what Richardson called "canus." In this connection it is 

 due to Mr. Lawrence to state that at the time of the founding of his species he had 

 not Richardson's type to guide him ; and as " brachyi-hynchus Rich." had always been 

 quoted (though erroneously) as the young zonm-liyndius, he was obliged to take for 

 granted existing opinions on the subject. 



It is probable that the species sometimes reaches the Missouri region, 

 but I have never seen it there, nor indeed anywhere, alive. 



Subgenus Blasipus, Bp. 



= Larus, Cass., 111. 1853, 28. (L. heemianni.) 



= Blasipus, Bp., Mss.— Brdch, J. f. O. 18,'>3, 108 (see Bp., R. Z. 1855, 21 ; ScL. & Salv., 

 P. Z. S. 1871, 573).— Bp., Consp. ii, 1856, 211 (type B. Aeei-manHi).-LAWK., B. N. 

 A. 1858, 848.— COUES, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1862, 204. 

 = Melarus, BEncH, J. f. O. 1853, 106 ; 1855, 278. t 



= LeucoplicBus, Bp., Consp. ii, 1856, 231 (type scoresbyi, Trail). 



Bill shorter than head or tarsus, rather slender, moderately compressed, the tip 

 rather acute ; its color red in part in the adult. Folded wings reaching beyond the 

 tail. Tail of moderate length, even, slightly emarginate in the young. Feet rather 

 large. Tarsus equal to the middle toe and claw. General colors dark ; tail mostly 

 blackish. 



This section scarcely differs in form from Lartis proper, and is only worth recognition 

 as a convenient means of grouping certain species which differ from ordinary Lari in 

 the pattern of coloration, being mostly dark colored, with black or largely dark tail, 

 and not showing the usual " mantle" contrasted with pure white. 



Bonaparte's Conspectus recognizes three species of Blasipus as restricted : heemianni 

 (type), bridgesi (modestus Tschudi), and crassirostris. He, however, has another " genus " 

 LeucophcFMs, in which he places scoresbyi Traill (hwmatorhyncMts King), fullginosus Gould, 

 and belcheri Vigors. The first two of these I have never seen ; the first is said to be 

 peculiar in the depth of its bill ; belcheri has a bill much stouter than that of heermanni. 



LAEUS (BLASIPUS) HEBEMANOT, Cass. 



Heermann's White-headed Gull. 



Larus heemianni, Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad, vi, 1852, 187; 111. 1853, 28, pi. 5 (adult and 



juvenile).— Heeem., P. R. E. Rep. x, 1859, pt. vi, 74. 

 Larus (Blasipus) heermanni, ScL. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1871, 574, oitm fig. 

 Blasipus heermanni, Bp., Consp. Av. ii, 185C, 211 ; Compt.- Rend. 1856, 770. — LiWE., B 

 N. A. 1858, 848.— Coop. & Suck., N. H. Wash. Ter. 18()0, 275.— Coues, Pr. Phila. 

 Acad. 1862, 304 ; Ibis; 1864, 388.— Saiv., ibid. 1866, 198. 

 Adelams heermanni, Bruch, J. f. 0. 1853, 107 ; 1855, 279. 

 Larus belchei-i, Schl., Mus. P.-B. Lari, p. 9, partim. (Unites several species.) 

 Larus {Blasipus) belcheri, Coues, Key, 1872, 314, excl. ByD.fuliginosus Gould. (JV'ec Vig.) 

 DiAG. Adultus plumbeo-schistaceus subtus dilutior, capite sensim albo, caudd totd nigricanie, 



albo-ferminata, teclricibus superioribus albicantihus ; remigibus caicdd concoloribus, prima- 



riis interioribus secondariisque albo-tei-niinaiis, rostro plei-umque rubra, pedihus rubro- 



nigricantibus. Long. tot. sesquiped. ; at. 14 poll. ; Baud. 5 ; rostri culm. 1.75 ; tars. 2.25. 



Junior : sat similis, sed obscuHor, capite fusco-variegato, rostro viz incarnato, apice nigro. 



Juvenis ; minor ; corpore toto cum capite fuUginoso, plus minusve albido variegato, remigi- 



bns ct rectricibus vix albb-terminatis, rostro magnd ex parte nigro. 



Hab. — Pacific coast of North America, British Columbia to Panama. 



Adult, breeding plumage.— BiU bright vermilion red, black for its terminal third, some- 

 times wholly red ; a red ring around eye. Head white ; this color gradually merging 

 41 



^:.. 



