Reprinted from The Condor, Vol. XXVI, p. 192, September, 1924 



White Wing-markings in the Heermann Gull: A Record from the Past. — I have 

 recently received from Mr. Ruthven Deane a postal card virritten by Dr. J. G. Cooper, 

 the subject matter of which seems of sufficient interest to place on record, even at this 

 late date. It was written at a time when Mr. Deane was gathering data on albino 

 birds, and is evidently a reply to queries along that line. It was addressed to "Ruthven 

 Deane, Esq., Cambridge, Mass.", and is worded as follows: "Hayward, Cal. Nov. 12 

 '78. Dear Sir, I never got but one albinescent spec, in Cal. a Larus Heerm'ni with a 

 white patch % size of this card on middle of each wing, that is across 2ndy quills. It 

 looked very pretty in the air, like a new sp. but when I shot it I found no other 

 difference. I have seen pale brown & mottled Dend/rocygna fulva & blotched Bernicla 

 Gambeli, imperfect albinos of T. migratorius & Scolecoph. but they are rare here yet. 

 Yours etc. J. G. Cooper." 



Inscribed across this writing is a postscript, "Dr. Brewer may have this Larus in 

 hand now." 



It will be recalled that Willett (Condor, vol. 20, May, 1918, p. 122) has recorded 

 the capture of Heermann Gulls {Larus heermanni), both by himself and by L. E. 

 Wyman, that were marked as Dr. Cooper described so many years before. Willett's 

 record stimulated P. A. Taverner (CONDOK, vol. 20, September, 1918, p. 187) to describe 

 a similar specimen from British Columbia; and yet others have been recorded (C. L. 

 Hubbs, Condor, vol. 21, May, 1919, p. 121). Evidently this peculiarity of the Heer- 

 mann Gull, noted as a novelty by present-day collectors, is one of long standing. — H. S. 

 SwARTH, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California, May 1, 1924.. 



