NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 23 



Kamtschatkan coast, notably on Copper Island, where it breeds in 

 company with pollicaris. 



The eggs have a ground-color of brownish white, varying to light 

 drab and buff, marked with blotches, sepia-brown and umber ; these 

 are underlain by subdued shades and cloudings of lilac-gray. The 

 average size of the egg is 2.28 x 1.66. 



42. Larus glaucus Brunn. [660.] 



Olanons Gull. 



Hab. Arctic regions, south in North America to the Great Lakes and Long Island. North Pacific. 



One of the largest of the Gulls, equal in fact, to the Great Black- 

 backed Gull, L. ■>narinus. 



It is a bird of high northern range during the breeding season — 

 inhabiting the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia and the more north- 

 ern portions of North America. In Spitzbergen it is said to breed in 

 immense numbers, placing the nests on the shores or low rocks and 

 even on masses of ice. They are large structures, made of sea weed 

 and moss. The Burgomaster Gull, as it is called, feeds on crabs and 

 fishes ; it attacks smaller birds and also robs them of their eggs and 

 young. It attends fishing boats for the purpose of devouring the offal 

 which may be thrown overboard. The bird is recorded as a constant 

 resident of Greenland. In Hudson's Bay it builds its nests on the 

 islands in lakes and rivers, and the young are hatched in June. Wal- 

 rus Island, one of the Prybilof group in Bering Sea, is a favorite 

 breeding place of this gull ; here the nests are built of sea ferns and 

 dry grass, placed among the grassy tussocks in the center of the 

 island. The eggs are two, and sometimes three in number ; their gen- 

 eral shape is spherically oval, and the ground color dark grayish- 

 brown, pale ash, pale clay or a pearly white. The markings are small 

 patches of light brown and brownish black. The sizes range from 

 2.95 to 3.15 long by 2.18 to 2.25 broad. 



* * Lams barrovianus Ridgw. 



Point Barrow Gull. 



Hab. Bering Sea and adjacent waters, northeastward to Point Barrow, southwest in winter to Japan. 



This new species of Gull,* whose plumage is described as resemb- 

 ling that of the Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, and whose size is inter- 

 mediate between these two species, is found on the islands of Be- 

 ring Sea, and its range extends as indicated in the habitat. 



Specimens that served for description were from the Island of St. 

 Michaels and Point Barrow.f 



* Described since the publication of the A . O. U. Check List. 



f For details see Auk, III, p. 330, or Ridgway's Manual N. Am. Birds, p. 26. 



