BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 153 



olive, well spotted and blotched all over. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 (1) 56 X 38, (2) 54 x 37. 



Breeding. Season. — September to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Seas of Tasmania and Australia 

 to New Caledonia. 



Observations. — Of the various species of sea-birds frequenting 

 the coast of Tasmania, the Silver Gull is the most familiar. It 

 frequents the sea-shore and the mouths of rivers rather than the 

 open ocean. It congregates oftentimes in immense flocks, 

 especially at low tide, along the beach or on reefs and shoals. At 

 Devonport it is to be seen in hundreds at low tide on the sand- 

 banks just below Wood's Slip, left bare by the receding tide. As 

 the tide comes in they move off to the mouth of the harbour and 

 out to sea. Some go up the river towards Latrobe and search for 

 food along the shores of the sedge-grown sand-banks, where I am 

 given to understand many nest. Eound Launceston wharves and 

 on the mud-flats of the Tamar large flocks may be seen every day 

 in the year. The same may be observed about any of the rivers 

 and harbours round the island. 



Every winter the low-lying lands up the valley of the North 

 Esk become flooded for longer or shorter periods. To these 

 swampy -flats the Silver Gulls resort in hundreds, and feed on the 

 young, grass-grubs and worms that have been washed out. Every 

 evening, shortly before sunset, the birds may be seen winging their 

 way harbourwards, following the course of the river all the while, 

 from St. Leonards to the wharves. At the Great Lake a flock has 

 been firmly established for some time ; they breed on a rocky islet 

 in the middle of the lake. 



Eegarding the general habits of the Silver Gull nothing need be 

 said, as they are so well known, both when flying in the wake of 

 a vessel and darting down and squabbling over scraps thrown into 

 the water or when quietly feeding about any of our rivers. 



As a domestic- pet for picking up noxious insects in gardens, 

 this species is held in high estimation. 



*PACIEIC GULL 

 (Gabianus (Larus) pacificus, Lath.) 

 Male. — Head, neck, and under surface white; the feathers of 

 the under surface are distinctly flushed with rosy-pink, which 

 lingers for some hours after death; mantle and surface of wings 

 deep black; scapulars slightly tipped with greyish-white; second- 

 aries with broader white tips and dark lead coloured upper parts; 

 primaries black, rather paler on the inner webs, and with white 

 tips from the fifth upwards ; tail coverts white ; tail feathers white, 

 with broad subterminal band of black; irides white; bill yellow, 

 tip reddish-orange; legs and feet saffron-yellow. Dimensions in 

 mm. : — Length, 615; bill, 59; wing, 450; tail, 182; tarsus, 65. 



